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To determine the incidence rate and risk factors for loss to follow‐up (LFU) in HIV‐infected individuals.

We estimated the incidence rate of LFU in 1756 HIV‐infected patients enrolled in the Tourcoing Clinical Cohort from January 1985 to January 1998. We then investigated potential LFU risk factors at inclusion through a case–control study. Cases were 209 patients who had attended neither our clinic nor another HIV clinic for at least 1 year. Controls were 209 patients randomly selected from the group of HIV‐infected patients followed up regularly.

The incidence of LFU was estimated at 4.3 per 100 person‐years [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.7–4.9]. Independent risk factors for LFU were (i) year of enrolment before 1993 [odds ratio (OR) 6.7; 95% CI 2.7–16.5 versus after 1997]; (ii) year of enrolment between 1993 and 1997 (OR 5.1; 95% CI 2.0–13.0 versus after 1997); (iii) age<30 …