Trends of AIDS in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): A longitudinal survey from 1998 to 1997

The study objective was to describe morbidity and mortality from HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Guadeloupe from 1998 to 1997 and to evaluate survival and prognostic factors. The HIV infected patients database of Guadeloupe included 1771 adult patients up to December 31, 1997. Annual incidence of AIDS defining illnesses were calculated and compared using Poisson regression. Survival analysis with log-rank test and multivariate analysis with Cox's model were performed for patients with AIDS. At the end of December 1997, 599 cases of AIDS (33.8 percent) and 367 deaths (20.7 percent) were reported. For 32.1 percent of the patients, AIDS was diagnosed before inclusion. Incidence of most AIDS-defining events decreased over time, especially after the introduction of protease inhibitor therapy. Before the introduction of protease inhibitors in September 1996, overall median survival after AIDS was 11.8 months (95 percent Confidence Interval (CI), 95 percent CI 10.2 - 14.1.) After this date median survival increased to 17.8 months (95 percent CI 18.6 - 22.5 ) and probability of survival was significantly higher for patients treated with protease inhibitor in combination regimen (mean 19.0 months. Standard deviation (SD) 1.3) compared to those who were not (mean 7.9 months, SD 0.6, p<0.0001). Prognosis factors of death after AIDS were older age (Relative Hazard, RH : 1.17, 95 percent CI 1.07 - 1.28), occurrence of two or more AIDS-defining events at the beginning of the disease (RH: 1.70, 95 percent CI 1.32 - 2.19), and a CD4 cell count less than 50/mm3 (RH: 2.33, 95 percent CI 1.71- 3.17). On the other hand, occurrence of AIDS during follow-up had a better prognosis (RH : 0.68, 95 percent CI 0.52 - 0.89) and protease inhibitor therapy was strongly associated with a longer survival (RH 0.26, 95 percent CI 0.13 - 0.53). We concluded that HIV infection in Guadeloupe was frequently diagnosed at the stage of AIDS. However, survival of patients and trends of major AIDS defining illnesses were more similar to the European pattern than to the Caribbean one, as a consequence of the availability of modern therapy.(AU)

Rational use of rubella vaccine for prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

Rubella is a viral disease with minor morbidity and few complications unless it is contracted by a pregnant woman. Rubella infection during the first trimester of pregnancy often leads to fetal death or severe congenital defects (congenital rubella syndrome, CRS). Rubella remains endemic in many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It has been estimated that 20 000 or more infants are perhaps born with CRS each year in Latin America and Caribbean countries. While the inclusion of rubella vaccination into routine childhood immunization will decrease rubella virus circulation among young children, it will not have immediate impact on the transmission of rubella among adults or the occurrence of CRS. A one-time mass campaign targeting both males and females 5 to 39 years of age with measles-mumps-rubella or measles-rubella vaccine followed by the use of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in routine early childhood vaccination will prevent and control both rubella and CRS promptly. In April 1988, the Ministers of Health of the English-speaking Caribbean targeted rubella for elimination by the end of the year 2000 using the vaccination strategy outlined above. The rubella elimination experience of these countries will provide useful information for the eventual elimination of rubella virus from the Americas (AU)