科研之友
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摘要
Background. South Africa (SA) has a high prevalence of HIV infection with almost 11% of the population aged %26gt;2 years living with HIV At the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, the Neurology Department has seen a steady increase in HIV-related neurology patients. %26lt;br%26gt;Objective. To evaluate the mortality data of this unit as it relates to HIV infection. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods. The study was a retrospective analysis of records. Patient mortality statistics for 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 were analysed regarding cause of death, sex, age and HIV status. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. During 2006, 85 patients died: 33% were HIV-positive, 13% were HIV-negative and 54% had not tested for HIV. By 2010, these figures were 50%, 22% and 28%, respectively, changing little in 2012 (48%, 28% and 24%, respectively). Causes of death in the HIV-positive group were meningitis in 58% - with tuberculous meningitis the most common aetiology - followed by strokes (14%), space-occupying lesions (8%) and status epilepticus (7%). Among HIV-positive patients aged 20 - 30 years, a larger proportion of young women died than men. In the combined untested and HIV-negative group, strokes accounted for the vast majority of deaths. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion. Neurological complications of HIV remain common in SA and contribute significantly to the overall mortality in our tertiary neurology unit, with TB posing a serious threat. A strong corps of clinical neurologists with training in infective neurology is needed urgently in the coming years to care for this growing number of patients.
- 出版日期2013-9
