HIV and diarrhea in the era of HAART: 1998 New York State hospitalizations

Background: This study reflects an attempt to identify the causes of diarrh eal illness in hospitalized HIV patients in light of therapeutic advancemen ts in HIV management. Methods: The study identifies the various etiologies associated with diarrh ea among HIV patients hospitalized in New York State in 1998. Data for this study were extracted from the New York State Department of Health Statewid e Planning and Research Cooperative System. Pathogens recognized to cause d iarrhea in persons with HN and general codes identifying diarrhea were exam ined by using the principal and all secondary diagnoses based on the Intern ational Classification of Diseases 9th Revision Clinical Modification codes . Results: Based on the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System da ta set, more than 15,000 patients with HIV were hospitalized in 1998. Among the HIV patients hospitalized, 2.8% were admitted with a diarrheal diagnos is. The following diagnoses occurred the most frequently among HIV patients hospitalized with a diarrheal illness: Clostridium difficile (51.3%), othe r protozoal diseases (18.1%), and other organisms, nor elsewhere specified (11.7%). Conclusions: In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, diarrhea i s still an occurring symptom in HIV patients. Despite the relatively small percentage of hospitalizations attributed to diarrhea, clinicians must reme mber that even "mild" to "moderate" diarrhea can have a debilitating impact among persons with the symptom.