Anaemia is an independent predictive marker for clinical prognosis in HIV-infected patients from across Europe. EuroSIDA study group. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Anaemia is an independent predictive marker for clinical prognosis in HIV-infected patients from across Europe. EuroSIDA study group.

AIDS. 1999 May 28;13(8):943-50. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99297585
Mocroft A; Kirk O; Barton SE; Dietrich M; Proenca R; Colebunders R; Pradier C; dArminio Monforte A; Ledergerber B; Lundgren JD; Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine and Department of Primary Care; and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College; Medical School, London, UK.


Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To describe changes in haemoglobin over time and to determine the joint prognostic value of the current haemoglobin, CD4 lymphocyte count and viral load among patients from across Europe. PATIENTS: The analysis included 6725 patients from EuroSIDA, an observational, prospective cohort of patients with HIV from across Europe. METHODS: Normal haemoglobin was defined as haemoglobin greater than 14 g/dl for men and 12 g/dl for women; mild anaemia was 8-14 g/dl for men and 8-12 g/dl for women; severe anaemia was defined as less than 8 g/dl for both males and females. Linear regression techniques were used to estimate the annual change in haemoglobin; standard survival techniques were used to describe disease progression and risk of death. RESULTS: At recruitment to the study, 40.4% had normal levels of haemoglobin, 58.2% had mild anaemia and 1.4% had severe anaemia. At 12 months after recruitment, the proportion of patients estimated to have died was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3-3.9] for patients without anaemia, 15.9% for patients with mild anaemia (95% CI 14.5-17.2) and 40.8% for patients with severe anaemia (95% CI 27.9-53.6; P < 0.0001). In a multivariate, time-updated Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for demographic factors, AIDS status and each antiretroviral treatment as time-dependent covariates, a 1 g/dl decrease in the latest haemoglobin level increased the hazard of death by 57% [relative hazard (RH) 1.57; 95% CI 1.41-1.75; P < 0.0001], a 50% drop in the most recent CD4 lymphocyte count increased the hazard by 51% (RH 1.51; 95% CI 1.35-1.70; P < 0.0001) and a log increase in the latest viral load increased the hazard by 37% (RH 1.37; 95% CI 1.15-1.63; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Severe anaemia occurred infrequently among these patients but was associated with a much faster rate of disease progression. Among patients with similar CD4 lymphocyte counts and viral load, the latest value of haemoglobin was a strong independent prognostic marker for death.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE MULTICENTER STUDY Adolescence Adult Anemia/*ETIOLOGY Cohort Studies CD4 Lymphocyte Count Disease Progression Europe Female Hemoglobins/*ANALYSIS Human HIV/PHYSIOLOGY HIV Infections/BLOOD/*COMPLICATIONS/*MORTALITY/VIROLOGY Male Middle Age Prognosis Proportional Hazards Models Prospective Studies Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Viral LoadKWDjournalarticlemulticenterstudyadolescenceadultanemia/KWDetiologycohortstudiescd4lymphocytecountdiseaseprogressioneuropefemalehemoglobins/KWDanalysishumanhiv/physiologyhivinfections/blood/KWDcomplications/KWDmortality/virologymalemiddleageprognosisproportionalhazardsmodelsprospectivestudiessupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tviralload
991130
A99B1113

Copyright © 1999 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1999. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .