Assessment of the prognostic value of the World Health Organization clinical staging system for HIV/AIDS in HIV-infected children and adolescents in a cohort in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of WHO clinical staging system in HIV-infected children and adolescents in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. WHO clinical stages were evaluated for risk of disease progression in 335 patients admitted from 1989 to 2003. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, age, clinical stage, CD4% <15% and viral load >5 log(10) were statistically significant. In Cox proportional hazards model, the relative risk of disease progression for Stage 4 at admission and in the worst moment were 3.47 [confidence interval (CI) 95% CI = 1.92-6.26] and 2.89 (95% CI = 1.44-5.79). Stages 2 and 3 were neutral as predictors of risk either of disease progression. CD4% <15% and viral load > 5 log(10) remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis. WHO clinical Stage 4 was a good predictor of risk of progression in this cohort. The findings support WHO proposition to start antiretroviral treatment for patients at a more advanced clinical stage.

Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations and mortality among children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be evaluated using indicators, such as rates of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations by cause of infection, and associated death. This study aimed to estimate the impact of HAART on the incidence of these indicators, in children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. It was a hybrid cohort study; 371 patients were followed from 1989 to 2003. In December 2003, 76% of the patients were still being followed, while 12.1% had died, 9.5% had dropped out, and 2.4% had been transferred. The overall rate of opportunistic infections was 18.32 infections/100 persons-year and 2.63 in the pre- and post-HAART periods, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of developing an opportunistic infection was 5.4 times greater and 3.3 times greater for hospitalization risk before HAART. Respiratory causes represented 65% of the hospitalizations and they were reduced by 44.6% with therapeutic intervention. The average hospital stay of 15 days was reduced to 9. There was a post-HAART decline in deaths of 38%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HAART in significantly reducing opportunistic infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in this Brazilian cohort.

Children and Adolescents with Perinatal HIV-1 Infection: Factors Associated with Adherence to Treatment in the Brazilian Context.

Challenges to the adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy among the pediatric population should be understood in the context of the trajectories of families, their interaction with healthcare services, and their access to material and symbolic goods. The present study analyzed individual, institutional and social factors that might be associated with the caregivers' role in the treatment adherence of children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). Based on semi-structured interviews and questionnaires applied to 69 caregivers seen at pediatric AIDS services of five Brazilian macro-regions, we observed that adherent caregivers had better acceptance of diagnosis and treatment, were less likely to face discrimination and social isolation secondary to AIDS-related stigma and tended to believe in the efficacy of treatment, and to be more optimistic about life perspectives of CALHIV. Interventions aiming to improve adherence and to promote the health of CALHIV should take in consideration the interplay of such different factors.

Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations and mortality among children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be evaluated using indicators, such as rates of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations by cause of infection, and associated death. This study aimed to estimate the impact of HAART on the incidence of these indicators, in children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. It was a hybrid cohort study; 371 patients were followed from 1989 to 2003. In December 2003, 76 percent of the patients were still being followed, while 12.1 percent had died, 9.5 percent had dropped out, and 2.4 percent had been transferred. The overall rate of opportunistic infections was 18.32 infections/100 persons-year and 2.63 in the pre- and post-HAART periods, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of developing an opportunistic infection was 5.4 times greater and 3.3 times greater for hospitalization risk before HAART. Respiratory causes represented 65 percent of the hospitalizations and they were reduced by 44.6 percent with therapeutic intervention. The average hospital stay of 15 days was reduced to 9.There was a post-HAART decline in deaths of 38 percent. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HAART in significantly reducing opportunistic infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in this Brazilian cohort.

O impacto da terapia anti-retroviral de alta potência ativa (HAART) pode ser avaliado utilizando-se indicadores, como taxas de incidências de infecções oportunistas, hospitalizações por causas infecciosas e mortalidade associada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o impacto da HAART na incidência desses indicadores em crianças e adolescentes com HIV/AIDS. Trata-se de uma coorte híbrida, na qual foram acompanhados 371 pacientes no período de 1989-2003. Em dezembro de 2003, 76 por cento dos pacientes permaneciam em acompanhamento, 12,1 por cento faleceram, 9,5 por cento foram perda de seguimento e 2,4 por cento transferidos. A taxa de incidência global de infecções oportunistas foi de 18,32 infecções/100 pessoas-ano e 2,63 nos períodos pré e pós-HAART, respectivamente. Na análise multivariada, risco relativo de desenvolvimento de infecção oportunista foi 5,4 vezes maior e 3,3 vezes maior para hospitalizações, antes da HAART. Causas respiratórias representaram 65 por cento das hospitalizações, sendo reduzidas em 44,6 por cento com a intervenção terapêutica. A mediana de duração das hospitalizações apresentou queda: 15 para 9 dias. Houve 38 por cento de declínio nos óbitos pós-HAART. Este estudo demonstrou a efetividade da HAART, associando-a com significativa redução na incidência das infecções oportunistas, hospitalizações e mortalidade nesta coorte brasileira.