Table 3.
Characteristics of Case and Control Patients from the HIV/AIDS Ward at Their Index Hospitalization
| Characteristics | Cases | Controls | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample size, n | 66 | 66 | |
| Median age (Q1–Q3), y | 38 (32–44) | 37 (34–45) | .49 |
| Female (%) | 20 (30) | 13 (20) | .16 |
| Aboriginal ethnicity (%) | 26 (39) | 13 (20) | .01 |
| Poorest urban neighborhood* (%) | 28 (42) | 14 (21) | .03 |
| No fixed address* (%) | 7 (11) | 7 (11) | |
| Social support no/unknown (%) | 14 (21) | 14 (21) | 1.0 |
| AIDS-defining illness (%) | 44 (67) | 40 (61) | .47 |
| IDU (%) | 37 (56) | 35 (53) | .73 |
| Median length of stay(Q1–Q3), d | 7 (4–17) | 6 (4–12) | .38 |
| Hospitalized in summer (%) | 40 (61) | 32 (48) | .16 |
| Left hospital AMA (%) | 30(45) | 6(9) | <.001 |
| Previous admission <6 mo (%) | 50 (76) | 24 (36) | <.001 |
| HAART on admission | 17 (26) | 9 (14) | .08 |
| HAART on discharge† | |||
| Yes | 14 (21) | 14 (21) | .03 |
| Scheduled | 6 (9) | 17 (26) | |
| No‡ | 46 (70) | 35 (53) | |
| Median CD4 cell count (mm3) | 160 (10–210) | 90 (30–230) | .08 |
*
Compared to living in other neighborhoods in Vancouver.
†
The P value reflects a χ2 for 3 × 2 table.
‡
36 Patients left AMA (30 in the case group).
IDU, injection drug use; AMA, against medical advice; HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy.