HIV-infected people with substance use disorders (HIV-SUDs) are at increased risk of leaving hospital against medical advice (LHAMA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of LHAMA in HIV-SUDs admitted to a patient-centered hospital where they receive integrated care, including healthcare, substance use treatment, and social support. Observational study was conducted at an urban acute-care university teaching hospital. Integrated care included a specialist in addiction medicine and a social worker incorporated into the medical staff. LHAMA was defined as participants leaving the hospital without the physician's permission and not returning within 6 h. Two hundred and ninety-nine HIV-SUDs were hospitalized, and 79 (26.4%) patients were readmitted, generating a total of 517 admissions during 2010-2016. Over the study period, 45 LHAMA were registered, yielding an incidence of 8.7%. On multiple logistic regression analysis, admission for malignancies (OR:4.2; p .02), retention in substance use treatment (OR:0.3; p .01), intravenous substance use (OR:3.1; 0.05), and marginally being foreign (OR:2.1; p .06) were independent factors associated with LHAMA. Despite the patient-centered hospital care, including integrated care, patients with lack of SUD treatment or with intravenous substance use are at increased risk of LHAMA. So, additional measures are necessary to reduce the risk of LHAMA among HIV-SUD.
Keywords: HIV; discharge against medical advice; substance use disorder.