Evidence mapPaperPMID 41505443Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Association of leukocyte count with death in people with HIV: A longitudinal study over 24 years.

Zoe Klein, Sophia C Meyer, Isabella C Schoepf, Marc Weber, Christian W Thorball, Lene Ryom, Neeltje A Kootstra, Peter Reiss, Dominique L Braun, Maria C Thurnheer and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Zoe KleinUniversity Center for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, Kantonsspital Baselland, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Bruderholz, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2171-9850
Sophia C MeyerUniversity Center for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, Kantonsspital Baselland, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
Isabella C SchoepfUniversity Center for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, Kantonsspital Baselland, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
Marc WeberDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christian W ThorballPrecision Medicine Unit, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Lene RyomCentre of Excellence for Health, Immunity, and Infections, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Neeltje A KootstraExperimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Peter ReissAmsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Global Health, and Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dominique L BraunDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Maria C ThurnheerDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Catia MarzoliniDivision of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Christian R KahlertDivision of Infectious Diseases, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0784-3276
Enos BernasconiDivision of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale Regionale Lugano, University of Geneva and Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
Matthias CavassiniInfectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Annalisa MarinosciDivision of Infectious Disease, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8054-0044
Jacques FellayPrecision Medicine Unit, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Roger D KouyosDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Huldrych F GünthardDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1142-6723
Bruno LedergerberDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Philip E TarrUniversity Center for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, Kantonsspital Baselland, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Bruderholz, Switzerland.
and the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIncreased blood leukocytes are associated with all-cause mortality and death from coronary disease and cancer in the general population. Limited information is available in people with HIV.

methodsWe analyzed blood leukocytes in 1850 participants of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study who died (2000-2023) and 1850 matched controls (median age at death 52 years, 77% male, 77% with suppressed HIV RNA on antiretroviral therapy). We assessed uni-/multivariable odds ratios (OR) for all-cause mortality, considering major clinical and HIV-related mortality risk factors, leukocytes measured >1 year before death (primary analysis) and in the latest available blood sample, and potential confounders for leukocytes.

resultsLeukocytes showed a U-shaped association with mortality. At a median of 433 (interquartile range [IQR], 396-495) days before death, multivariable-adjusted OR for death in the highest (leukocytes ≥7730/μL) vs. middle quintile (leukocytes 5290-6260/μL) was 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.02). Multivariable-adjusted OR in the lowest (leukocytes ≤4250/μL) vs. middle leukocyte quintile was 1.51 (1.14-2.01). For comparison, death-OR for hypertension, diabetes and current smoking were 1.27 (1.06-1.53), 1.91 (1.41-2.57), and 2.72 (2.14-3.45), respectively. Leukocytosis was uncommon (cases, 4.4% vs. controls, 2.3%; p = 0.004). The effect size of the highest leukocyte quintile increased in the latest blood sample (median 86 [IQR], 43-152 days before death; OR=1.99 [1.44-2.76]). High leukocytes were associated with death from non-AIDS/non-hepatic cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory causes. Low leukocytes were associated with liver-related death.

conclusionsHigh leukocytes, measured >1 year before death and mostly within the normal range, are independently associated with mortality in people with HIV in Switzerland.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansLeukocyte CountLeukocytesLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedOdds RatioRisk FactorsSwitzerland

Identifiers

PMID41505443
PMCPMC12782362

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.