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Patients lost to follow up: experience of an HIV clinic
  1. L J Haddow,
  2. S G Edwards1,
  3. K Sinka2,
  4. D E Mercey3
  1. 1Department of Genitourinary medicine, Camden Primary Care NHS Trust, London, UK
  2. 2Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, PHLS Colindale, London, UK
  3. 3Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Lewis Haddow, Department of Genitourinary Medicine, 5th Floor, Mortimer Market Centre, Capper Street, off Tottenham Court Road, London WC1E 6AU, UK; lewis.haddow{at}camdenpct.nhs.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.79.4.349-b

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    The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV aims to reduce the pool of undiagnosed HIV infection in the United Kingdom.1 Potential benefits of earlier diagnosis include timely initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), prevention of complications of HIV, screening for STIs that are known to enhance HIV infectivity,2 and psychological support. Patients may not realise these benefits if they are lost to follow up (LFU). Previous studies have found associations between frequent non-attendance (as distinct from LFU) and less severe illness,3 drug addiction,4 and patients’ health beliefs.5

    We studied the case notes of all surviving patients who had enrolled in our HIV clinic within a 15 month period but had not received medical care for 12 months …

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