Hospitalizations in the United States among HIV-Infected Individuals in Short-Stay Hospitals, 1982 to 2010

Abstract

Objective: To estimate trends in hospitalizations and days of care of HIV-infected individuals in US hospitals from 1982 to 2010. Methods: Secondary data analysis of the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Results: Hospitalizations of HIV-infected individuals increased from 1982 to a peak of 216 086 by 1995, fell 36% by 1997, and then decreased to 118 236 by 2010. Days of care for HIV-uninfected individuals decreased 14.7% from 6.1 days in 1982 to 5.2 days in 2010 yet dropped 62.7% from 17.6 to 7.1 days for HIV-infected individuals. Hospitalized HIV-infected individuals were more likely than uninfected individuals to be male, black, 35 to 44 years old, Medicaid recipients, and be hospitalized in the northeast, in hospitals with more than 500 beds and in government-operated hospitals. Conclusions: Hospitalizations and days of care for HIV-infected individuals have decreased dramatically in recent years and at rates greater than for HIV-uninfected individuals yet involve some populations and affect certain hospitals disproportionately.