       Document 0347
 DOCN  M9460347
 TI    Survival differences in European patients with AIDS, 1979-89. The AIDS
       in Europe Study Group.
 DT    9408
 AU    Lundgren JD; Pedersen C; Clumeck N; Gatell JM; Johnson AM; Ledergerber
       B; Vella S; Phillips A; Nielsen JO; University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre
       Hospital, Denmark.
 SO    BMJ. 1994 Apr 23;308(6936):1068-73. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94227645
 AB    OBJECTIVES--To examine the pattern of survival and factors associated
       with the outcome of disease in patients with AIDS. DESIGN--Inception
       cohort. Data collected retrospectively from patients' charts.
       SETTING--52 clinical centres in 17 European countries. SUBJECTS--6578
       adults diagnosed with AIDS from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989. MAIN
       OUTCOME MEASURES--Survival after the time of diagnosis. RESULTS--The
       median survival after diagnosis was 17 months, with an estimated
       survival at three years of 16% (95% confidence interval 15% to 17%).
       Patients diagnosed in southern Europe had a shorter survival,
       particularly immediately after the time of diagnosis, compared with
       patients diagnosed in central and northern Europe (survival at one year
       (95% confidence interval) 54% (52% to 56%) 66% (64% to 68%), 65% (63% to
       66%), respectively. The three year survival, however, was similar for
       all regions. The regional differences in survival were less pronounced
       for patients diagnosed in 1989 compared with earlier years. Improved
       survival in recent years was observed for patients with a variety of
       manifestations used to define AIDS but was significant only for patients
       diagnosed with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The three year survival,
       however, remains unchanged over time. CONCLUSIONS--Survival of AIDS
       patients seems to vary within Europe, being shorter in southern than
       central and northern Europe. The magnitude of these differences,
       however, has declined gradually over time. Short term survival has
       improved in recent years, but the long term prognosis has remained
       equally poor, reflecting the fact that the underlying infection with HIV
       and many of the complicating diseases remains essentially uncontrolled.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/DRUG THERAPY/IMMUNOLOGY/  *MORTALITY
       Adult  Cohort Studies  Europe/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Female  Human  Leukocyte
       Count  Male  Multivariate Analysis  Prognosis  Retrospective Studies
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Survival Analysis  Time Factors  T4 Lymphocytes
       Zidovudine/THERAPEUTIC USE  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

