Echocardiographic Findings and Their Impact on Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients with AIDS in the Era of HAART

Objective . To describe the echocardiographic findings in critically ill patients with AIDS and their impact on clinical outcome. Design . A retrospective chart review of consecutive AIDS patients over 18 years of age, who had a trans-thoracic echocardiogram performed during the course of intensive care unit stay over the course of 2 years at a tertiary care hospital. Main outcome measures . The prevalence of echocardiogram abnormalities in this population and its impact on ICU mortality, ICU length of stay, hospital mortality, hospital length of stay and 60 day survival. Results . Among 107 patients who met the inclusion criteria, an admission echocardiogram was performed in 62 (58%). The prevalence of cardiac abnormalities was 60%. The most common admission diagnosis was respiratory failure n = 27 (43%). The most common finding on echocardiogram was left ventricular (LV) dysfunction n = 31 (50%) followed by pulmonary hypertension n = 25 (40%). None of these findings had a significant impact on clinical outcomes. There was trend toward reduced 60 day survival among patients with depressed LV function. Conclusions . Although echocardiogram abnormalities were prevalent among this population none of these findings had a significant impact on ICU mortality or hospital mortality and ICU length of stay or hospital length of stay.