The Role of Oral Candidiasis in Survival and Hospitalization Patterns: Analysis of an Inner City Hospital Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Registry

Abstract

To assess the effect of oral candidiasis (OC) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at initial hospital admission on both survival and hospital use, a retrospective analysis was performed in 1,172 hospitalized patients identified by an HIV surveillance program at an inner city public hospital in East Harlem, New York. Survival times were compared using three different HIV staging schemes placing patients with OC into either a common stage with adenopathy patients (Scheme IHS-URV), a common stage with acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients (AIDS; Scheme WRCDC), or an intermediate stage between AIDS patients and all others (Scheme ORAL). Patients without AIDS demonstrated a significantly increased risk of dying (relative risk, 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69, 4.03) if they were initially admitted with OC. Survival times for different stages of disease showed the best between-stage distinction for a Scheme ORAL, with the OC stage having a median survival of 643 days. Mean days of hospitalization also showed best distinctions for Scheme ORAL. Other staging schemes did not distinguish patients as well in terms of both survival times or mean hospitalization days. HIV-infected patients admitted with OC but without AIDS had a discrete survival prognosis and hospitalization course. Therefore, presence of OC even without other immunologic data has implications for institutional resource allocation and planning. These data support, in this context, a separate clinical designation for OC patients.