The first one hundred AIDS cases in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the first 100 reported AIDS cases in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The case records of the first 100 AIDS cases reported to the Department of Health were retrieved. An analysis was made on their demographic data, clinical and immunologic profile, treatment received as well as mortality.

RESULTS

The AIDS patients were reported over a ten-year period, from February 1985 to March 1994. The majority of them were male, Chinese and between the age of 20 and 49. More than 80% acquired HIV via sexual contact. The most common primary AIDS- defining illness was Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), which occurred in 46 patients. Eight episodes of Penicillium marneffei infection have been recorded. Fifty-nine patients have received antiretroviral therapy whereas PCP prophylaxis was given to 47 patients. The mean CD4 count at HIV and AIDS diagnosis was 394/microliters and 121 /microliters respectively. Sixty-seven patients were known to have died at the time of the analysis. PCP was the most common cause of death, accounting for over one-fifth of the cases. The median survival after AIDS diagnosis was less than 2 months for cases reported in 1985-1987 and over 15 months for those of 1990-1991.

CONCLUSION

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most common initial AIDS-defining disease and cause of death in Hong Kong. Survival of the patients has gradually improved over the past few years.