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Multicenter Study
. 2009 Aug 12;14(8):323-31.
doi: 10.1186/2047-783x-14-8-323.

The Patient Cohort of the German Competence Network for HIV/AIDS (KompNet): a profile

K Jansen  1 , C Michalik, M Hahn, S Dupke, S Esser, H Jaeger, S Köppe, A Moll, A Plettenberg, R E Schmidt, A Skaletz-Rorowski, N H Brockmeyer; Competence Network for HIV/AIDS
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

The Patient Cohort of the German Competence Network for HIV/AIDS (KompNet): a profile

K Jansen et al. Eur J Med Res. .

Abstract

Objective: In this paper, we describe the main objectives, the study design and the onset of the patient cohort of the German Competence Network for HIV/AIDS (KompNet) (www.kompetenznetz-hiv.de). Furthermore, we depict sociodemographic and clinical baseline characteristics and an estimation of the coverage and representativity as to the composition of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Germany.

Methods: The KompNet cohort is an open, retrospective and prospective, multicenter, disease-specific and nationwide cohort study that started gathering data in June 2004. Semi-annually, follow up visits of the patients are documented, covering clinical and sociodemographic data. At enrolment and three years afterwards, an EDTA-sample is taken; a serum-sample is taken at every follow up visit.

Results: As of 14.9.2008, a total of 15,541 patients were enrolled by 44 documenting sites. In September 2007, the cohort size was reduced to 10 outpatient clinics and fifteen private practitioners, covering a total of 9,410 patients. The documentation of these patients comprises 24,117 years of follow up-time since enrolment (mean: 2.6 years), 62,862 person years inclusive data documented retrospectively on course of HIV-infection and combined antiretroviral therapy (cART, mean: 6.7 years). 1,008 patients (10.7%) were lost to follow up and 175 (1.9%) died since enrolment. 84.9% of patients were men. Main risks of transmission were sex between men (MSM: 62.9%), heterosexual contacts (18.4%), intravenous drug use (IVDU: 7.0%) and origin from a high prevalence country (HPL: 5.2%). Mean age was 45 years.

Conclusion: The KompNet cohort covers about a quarter of all patients being under treatment in Germany. The composition of the cohort represents well the most important risks of transmission in Germany. The cohort contains a high proportion of patients being older than 49 years (28.1%). On basis of its comprehensive database and its biomaterials banks, the KompNet cohort serves as an important instrument to monitor and analyse the effects of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Germany, interdigidating basis, clinical and psychosocial research in view to translational research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Current composition of documenting sites of the KompNet cohort.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modular structure of the KompNet cohort.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Robert Koch-Institut. HIV und AIDS. Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes. 2006. p. 31.
    1. Robert Koch-Institut. HIV-Infektionen/AIDS: Jahresbericht 2008. Epi Bull. 2009. p. 21.
    1. Robert Koch-Institut. HIV/AIDS in Deutschland - Eckdaten. 2009.
    1. Robert Koch-Institut. Changing epidemiology and consequences for prevention. Invited lecture at the SÖDAK, St Gallen. 2009.
    1. Franz A. In: Medizinische Versorgung von Menschen ohne Krankenversicherung. Borde T, David M, editor. Gut versorgt? Migrantinnen und Migranten im Gesundheitsund Sozialwesen; 2003. pp. 143–152.

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