Impact of HIV on Malaria Diagnosis in Hospitalized Adults in Mozambique
Author Information
Author(s): Aase Berg, Sam Patel, Nina Langeland, Bjorn Blomberg
Primary Institution: Stavanger University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Stavanger, Norway
Hypothesis
Does HIV-infection obscure the malaria diagnosis?
Conclusion
The study suggests that the fraction of febrile illness attributable to malaria is lower in HIV positive adults.
Supporting Evidence
- 15% of patients had presumptive malaria based on clinical diagnosis.
- 69.1% of patients were HIV positive.
- 7% of patients had verified malaria after retrospective review.
- HIV positive patients had a higher rate of rejected malaria diagnoses.
Takeaway
This study found that people with HIV are more likely to be misdiagnosed with malaria, which can lead to missed treatment for other infections.
Methodology
A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on adults admitted to a medical ward, collecting clinical and laboratory data over two months.
Potential Biases
Possible underreporting of HIV and malaria cases, and selection bias due to admission criteria.
Limitations
The study population is small and may not represent the broader population; potential biases include underreporting of HIV and malaria.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 38 years, with 50% females; 69.1% were HIV positive.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.023
Confidence Interval
95%CI: 1.31–40.42
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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