Human immunodeficiency virus-associated diarrhea and wasting in Zambia: selected risk factors and clinical associations.

A significant association was observed among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive adult cases in Lusaka, Zambia compared with HIV-negative controls for chronic diarrhea (68% versus 22%; P < 0.05), weight loss (54% versus 30%; P < 0.05), lymphadenopathy (44% versus 15%; P < 0.05), and skin eruption (33% versus 7%; P < 0.05). Among the HIV-positive children, a higher proportion had clinical evidence of tuberculosis when compared with HIV-negative children (8% versus 1%; P < 0.05). The study demonstrated an association between weight loss in HIV-positive adults and children and chronic diarrhea (odds ratio [OR] = 12.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.4-25.5; P < 0.001), persistent cough (OR = 7.2, 95% CI = 2.9-14.5; P < 0.001), and an age of 31-45 years (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.8-8.3; P < 0.01). The factors associated with mortality in HIV positive patients included chronic diarrhea (OR = 7.4, 95% CI = 1.6-34; P < 0.01), and lymphadenopathy (OR = 3.89, 95% CI = 1.2-12.2; P < 0.04).