Are immunological markers, social and personal resources, or a complaint-free state predictors of progression among HIV-infected patients?

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 476 - 484
• Main Authors: Eich-Höchli, D., Niklowitz, M. W., Lüthy, R., Opravil, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Chi-Square Distribution; Confidence Intervals; Disease Progression; Female; HIV Core Protein p24 - blood; HIV infection; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - psychology; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; immunology; Immunopathology; Logistic Models; lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Odds Ratio; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; social factors; Social Support; Switzerland; Time Factors; Switzerland; Consumption; Human; Immunopathology; Seropositivity; Demography; Sexual behavior; Mental health; Biological marker; Social network; AIDS; Risk taking; Immune deficiency; Epidemiology; Infection; Alcoholic beverage; Sexually transmitted disease; Viral disease; T-Lymphocyte; Evolution; Drug of abuse; Coping; Predictive factor; Public health
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 1600-0447
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb10135.x

Predictors of disease progression were studied in 89 asymptomatic HIV‐infected patients who were prospectively evaluated for psychosocial variables and the development of clinical symptoms over a period of 2 years. The subjects were assessed for symptoms, laboratory measures, demographic variables, social and personal resources, mental status, alcohol, nicotine and drug use, sexual activity and risk behaviour, and sexually transmitted diseases. After 1 year, 17% of the patients had developed HIV‐associated symptoms (symptomatic disease or AIDS), and after 2 years, 32% had developed symptoms or had died. In the multivariate analyses, the baseline CD4 count was the only significant predictor of disease progression during both observation periods. Psychosocial measures did not predict the progression of HIV infection.