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SMITH DE CHERIF, T. K., SCHOEMAN, J. H., CLEARY, S., MEINTJES, G. A., REBE, K. & MAARTENS, G. (2009) Early severe morbidity and resource utilization in South African adults on antiretroviral therapy. BMC Infectious Diseases, 9(205).

High rates of mortality and morbidity have been described in sub-Saharan African patients within the first few months of starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). There is limited data on the causes of early morbidity on HAART and the associated resource utilization. A cross-sectional study was conducted of medical admissions at a secondary-level hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Patients on HAART were identified from a register and HIV-infected patients not on HAART were matched by gender, month of admission, and age group to correspond with the first admission of each case. Primary reasons for admission were determined by chart review. Direct health care costs were determined from the provider’s perspective.

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