AEGiS-14IAC: Are there clinical/laboratorial differences between HIV positive men and women at first medical visit? A prospective study.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Are there clinical/laboratorial differences between HIV positive men and women at first medical visit? A prospective study.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. B10208)

Almeida VC, Monteiro MM, Melo EV, Figueiredo NE, Temponi PF, Pierri MH, Lupatelli S
University of Sao Paulo, Araraquara, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in Brazil, there has been a decrease in mortality among HIV patients. However, despite universal use of specific therapy for all patients, mortality sharply decreased in men, but not as much in women. Factors that may contribute to these findings are not yet clearly understood. The aim of the study is to look for possible factors that may explain this difference.

METHODS: All HIV patients in our region (approx 200.000 hab.) are followed in this AIDS clinic. From january 1-2000 all patients with a recently diagnosed HIV infection referred to clinic was enrolled in the study..A form was filled with clinical and laboratorial data at first visit.

RESULTS: 117 patients are included after 22 months of study . [table: see text] Other variables such as social, educational and economic level were not defferent between groups.

CONCLUSION: We found that women were less symptomatic than men at presentation. This difference was not explaind by CD4 count, age or socioeconomic background in this group of patients.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Prospective Studies, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Brazil, Human, Female, Male

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B10208