Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32097440›Full record

Observational studyPloS one2020

Severe anaemia complicating HIV in Malawi; Multiple co-existing aetiologies are associated with high mortality.

Minke H W Huibers, Imelda Bates, Steve McKew, Theresa J Allain, Sarah E Coupland, Chimota Phiri, Kamija S Phiri, Michael Boele van Hensbroek, Job C Calis

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Minke H W HuibersGlobal child health group, Emma Children's Hospital, University Medical Centres Amsterdam, location Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-0310-3067
Imelda BatesLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Steve McKewLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Theresa J AllainDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Sarah E CouplandDepartment of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Chimota PhiriDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Kamija S PhiriSchool of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
Michael Boele van HensbroekGlobal child health group, Emma Children's Hospital, University Medical Centres Amsterdam, location Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Job C CalisGlobal child health group, Emma Children's Hospital, University Medical Centres Amsterdam, location Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Emma Kinderziekenhuis · NLLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine · GBQueen Elizabeth Central Hospital · MWUniversity of Liverpool · GB

Funding

Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust WT086559
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSevere anaemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected adults living in resource-limited countries. Comprehensive data on the aetiology are lacking but are needed to improve outcomes.

methodsHIV-infected adults with severe (haemoglobin ≤70g/l) or very severe anaemia (haemoglobin ≤ 50 g/l) were recruited at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. Fifteen potential causes and associations with anaemia severity and mortality were explored.

results199 patients were enrolled: 42.2% had very severe anaemia and 45.7% were on ART. More than two potential causes for anaemia were present in 94% of the patients including iron deficiency (55.3%), underweight (BMI<20: 49.7%), TB infection (41.2%) and unsuppressed HIV infection (viral load >1000 copies/ml) (73.9%). EBV/CMV co-infection (16.5%) was associated with very severe anaemia (OR 2.8 95% CI 1.1-6.9). Overall mortality was high (53%; 100/199) with a median time to death of 17.5 days (IQR 6-55) days. Death was associated with folate deficiency (HR 2.2; 95% CI 1.2-3.8) and end stage renal disease (HR 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.2).

conclusionMortality among severely anaemic HIV-infected adults is strikingly high. Clinicians should be aware of the urgent need for a multifactorial approach including starting or optimising HIV treatment, considering TB treatment, nutritional support and optimising renal management.

Indexed as

MortalityAdultAnemia, Iron-DeficiencyFemaleHerpesviridae InfectionsHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMalnutritionMiddle AgedTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID32097440
PMCPMC7041863
OpenAlexW3006972305

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.