EXPERIENCE OF HIV-DISEASE IN A LONDON DISTRICT-GENERAL-HOSPITAL

The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss the experience of HIV disease in Central Middlesex Hospital, London up to June 1993. A retr ospective study of the total number of HIV-positive patients cared for was performed. In addition, prospectively collected data as part of l ocal epidemiological surveillance from January 1987 to June 1993 on al l HIV test requests was analysed. Between January 1987 and June 1993 3 695 individuals were tested for HIV-1 antibody at Central Middlesex Ho spital. Of these, 101 HIV-1 seropositive individuals were identified a nd have attended this District General Hospital. Seven HIV-1 seroposit ive individuals were identified from before December 1986. Sixty (56%) had acquired their infection heterosexually. Thirty-eight (35%) origi nated from the UK and 47 (44%) from sub-Saharan Africa; the remaining 23 (21%) originated from the rest of Europe, South America and the Car ibbean. Thirty-four (31%) of the patient group developed AIDS during f ollow-up at the hospital and in 26 individuals AIDs developed within 2 months of their first positive HIV result. The mean survival of 20 pa tients after AIDS-defining diagnoses was 7 months 18 days. This unsele cted group of HIV-1 seropositive patients present late in the course o f their HIV disease and survival following AIDS is poor.