Effects of protease inhibitors in the treatment of secondary

Effects of protease inhibitors in the treatment of secondary infections in HIV-positive patients

Find the average complication rate in the two groups of HIV-positive patients.

Protease inhibitors (PIs) arc used in the treatment of infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A military hospital provides unlimited access to a full spectrum of HIV medications. Has this access reduced admissions caused by secondary infections? In particular, has unlimited access to PIs reduced the annual admission rate of patients with pulmonary complications? The number of admissions for HIV. separated into patients with and those without pulmonary complications, was obtained for the 4 years (1992-1995) before access to PIs and for the 2 years (1996-1997) after PIs became available.

Solution

The complication rate before PIs are available is: number of complications in the four years/total number of patients in those four years

=194/485=0.4

The complication rate before PIs are available is: number of complications in the two years/total number of patients in those two years

=25/92=0.27

Thus average complication rate is: (0.4+0.27)/2=0.335