Morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients in the Military Hospital in Libreville (Gabon)

Abstract

To study the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients at the military hospital in Libreville (Gabon). A retrospective study of the clinical records of 289 HIV-positive patients hospitalized in the department of internal medicine between January 2008 and December 2010. The patient's median age was 40 years (range: 18-70). The principal presenting complaints were fever (82%), weight loss (76.47%) and coughing (26.64%). Median time from symptom onset to consultation was 150 days (1-365). The predominant opportunistic diseases were oropharyngeal candidiasis (71.62%), all forms of tuberculosis (26.29%) and cerebral toxoplasmosis (23.87%). The median CD4 lymphocyte count was 177/mm(3 )(1-590). In-hospital mortality was 27.68%. The factors associated with death were long time to consultation and severe immunosuppression (CD4 count <100/mm(3)). Despite increased awareness, lateness of diagnosis and thus of treatment persist, and AIDS remains one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in Gabon.