COMPLETENESS OF REPORTING OF DIAGNOSED HIV-INFECTED HOSPITAL INPATIENTS

To assess the completeness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) repor ting among hospital inpatients whose records listed diagnostic codes f or HIV infection but who did not meet the 1987 AIDS case definition, w e conducted a statewide hospital study of admissions between January 1 , 1986 and December 31, 1990. Of the 396 HIV-infected hospital inpatie nts identified, 313 (79%) had been reported to the State HIV Registry. HIV reporting was less complete for patients who were older and/or we re blood product recipients. Of the 313 reported patients, 189 (60%) h ad been reported prior to their first hospital admission. Temporal imp rovements were noted in the completeness of HIV reporting among the ho spital patients (1986: 65%; 1987: 81%; 1988: 64%; 1989: 82%; 1990: 86% ; Chi square for linear trend 9.6, p < 0.01) and prior to their first hospital admission (1986: 31%; 1987: 34%; 1988: 49%; 1989: 64%; 1990: 72%; Chi square for linear trend 26.6; p < 0.01). Women were more like ly than men to be reported prior rather than during or after their fir st hospital admission (71% vs. 55%; p < 0.01). Of the 155 patients wit h CD4(+) T-lymphocyte test results, 41 had CD4(+) counts <200 mm(3) an d met the 1993 but not the 1987 AIDS case definition. In South Carolin a most (79%) diagnosed, hospitalized, HIV-infected patients had been r eported to the State HIV Registry, with improvements in reporting occu rring over time. Findings suggest that the 1993 AIDS case definition w ill improve our ability to monitor severe morbidity related to HIV.