Factors associated with presentation to care with advanced HIV disease in Brussels and Northern France: 1997-2007.

Background: Our objective was to determine the frequency and determinants of presentation to care with advanced HIV disease in patients who discover their HIV diagnosis at this stage as well as those with delayed presentation to care after HIV diagnosis in earlier stages.

Methods: We collected data on 1,819 HIV-infected patients in Brussels (Belgium) and Northern France from January 1997 to December 2007. "Advanced HIV disease" was defined as CD4 count <200/mm3 or clinically-defined AIDS at study inclusion and was stratified into two groups: (a) late testing, defined as presentation to care with advanced HIV disease and HIV diagnosis ≤6 months before initiation of HIV care; and (b) delayed presentation to care, defined as presentation to care with advanced HIV disease and HIV diagnosis >6 months before initiation of HIV care.

Incidence rate and risk factors for loss to follow-up in HIV-infected patients from five French clinical centres in Northern France - January 1997 to December 2006.

Background: Our goal was to determine the incidence rate and risk factors for loss to follow-up (LTFU) of HIV-infected patients in Northern France.

Methods: We estimated the incidence rate of LTFU in 1,007 HIV-infected patients under care from January 1997 to December 2006. We then investigated potential risk factors for LTFU at inclusion and during follow-up.

Characteristics of and outcomes in HIV-infected patients who return to care after loss to follow-up.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of and outcomes in HIV-infected patients who returned to care after loss to follow-up (LTFU) in Northern France, between 1997 and 2006. Among the 1007 patients who were followed, 135 patients (13.4%) were LTFU during the study period.