SURVIVAL WITH AIDS IN IRELAND

Objective: To analyse the pattern of survival for patients diagnosed w ith AIDS in Dublin. Methods: Data on 193 patients visiting the Departm ent of Genitourinary Medicine of a Dublin Hospital, over a period of 7 years with AIDS, were analysed, and survival patterns were investigat ed. Results: The cumulative probability of survival for the cohort was 69.0 +/- 3.3% at 1 year and 6.5 +/- 2.5% at 5 years. Median survival was 576 days. Year of diagnosis and disease group to which the patient belonged at diagnosis had a significant influence on the survival of the cohort (P < 0.0006 and P < 0.02, respectively). Age group, disease group, and year of diagnosis showed significant differences between s trata (P < 0.01, P < 0.002, and P < 0.04, respectively). Patients aged 35-39 years showed longer median survival times (715 days) than all o ther age groups (median survival = 547 days; P < 0.04). Patients whose disease group at diagnosis was opportunistic disease(s) alone (Center s for Disease Control 1987 criteria, stage IV group C1) had a signific antly longer median survival (672 days) than all others (median surviv al 281 days; P < 0.0002). Survival did not differ significantly by sex or risk group alone, nor did it differ significantly by manifestation of disease when grouped according to recognised criteria. Treatment w ith antiretroviral therapy had a significant influence on the survival of the cohort (P < 0.0002), and the treatment group showed a signific ant difference between strata (P < 0.0002). This result must be qualif ied by the fact that, first, 11 of the 26 patients not receiving thera py died within 1 month of diagnosis and people who survived longer had a greater chance of beginning treatment, and that, secondly, criteria for antiretroviral therapy allocation were not entirely clear. Conclu sions: The overall survival time found by this study is comparable to that found in other studies in developed countries of the survival of persons with AIDS. Patterns of survival for age groups and manifestati on of disease show some contrasting features, mainly owing to the demo graphic profile of the patients and the high proportion of intravenous drug users.