Reliability and Validity of Self-Report CD4 Counts in Persons Hospitalized with HIV Disease

摘要: Studies of health care outcomes and clinical decision making for people with HIV disease depend on CD4 cell count data to accurately assess the stage disease. The possibility obtaining reliable valid from self-reported counts is an unexplored source potentially important, cost-effective information these purposes. We examined extent agreement medical record among 120 patients (95% male, 69% white, 5% injection drug users) hospitalized HIV-related illness at seven Los Angeles area hospitals. Average report did not differ significantly, were highly correlated (product moment correlation 0.84, intraclass 0.82). Agreement between self-reports records varied by level: higher levels CD4, differences tended be larger, yielding upwardly biased estimates compared records. These findings suggest that self-report may provide clinically adequate true counts. study needs replicated in other populations, notably those larger numbers subjects who are female, minority ethnicity, or users.