Predictors of Mortality among Adult Antiretroviral Therapy Users in Southeastern Ethiopia: Retrospective Cohort Study

Background. Although efforts have been made to reduce AIDS-related mortality by providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) services, still people are dying while they are on treatment due to several factors. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of mortality among adult antiretroviral therapy (ART) users in Goba Hospital, Southeast Ethiopia.Methods. The medical records of 2036 ART users who enrolled at Goba Hospital between 2007 and 2012 were reviewed and sociodemographic, clinical, and ART-related data were collected. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to measure risk of death and identify the independent predictors of mortality.Results. The overall mortality incidence rate was 20.3 deaths per 1000 person-years. Male, bedridden, overweight/obese, and HIV clients infected with TB and other infectious diseases had higher odds of death compared with their respective counterparts. On the other hand, ART clients with primary and secondary educational level and early and less advanced WHO clinical stage had lower odds of death compared to their counterparts.Conclusion. The overall mortality incidence rate was high and majority of the death had occurred in the first year of ART initiation. Intensifying and strengthening early ART initiation, improving nutritional status, prevention and control of TB, and other opportunistic infections are recommended interventions.

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Tuberculosis Incidence and Risk Factors Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in a Large HIV Program in Nigeria

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofv154 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Charlotte A. Chang ◽

Seema Thakore Meloni ◽

Geoffrey Eisen ◽

Beth Chaplin ◽

Patrick Akande ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

World Health ◽

Clinical Markers ◽

Art Initiation ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract Background. Despite the benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons in Africa. Nigeria bears the highest TB burden in Africa and second highest HIV burden globally. This long-term multicenter study aimed to determine the incidence rate and predictors of TB in adults in the Harvard/AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) and President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Nigeria ART program. Methods. This retrospective evaluation used data collected from 2004 to 2012 through the Harvard/APIN PEPFAR program. Risk factors for incident TB were determined using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression with time-dependent covariates. Results. Of 50 320 adults enrolled from 2005 to 2010, 11 092 (22%) had laboratory-confirmed active TB disease at ART initiation, and 2021 (4%) developed active TB after commencing ART. During 78 228 total person-years (PY) of follow-up, the TB incidence rate was 25.8 cases per 1000 PY (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.7–27.0) overall, and it decreased significantly both with duration on ART and calendar year. Risk factors at ART initiation for incident TB included the following: earlier ART enrollment year, tenofovir-containing initial ART regimen, and World Health Organization clinical stage above 1. Time-updated risk factors included the following: low body mass index, low CD4+ cell count, unsuppressed viral load, anemia, and ART adherence below 80%. Conclusions. The rate of incident TB decreased with longer duration on ART and over the program years. The strongest TB risk factors were time-updated clinical markers, reinforcing the importance of consistent clinical and laboratory monitoring of ART patients in prompt diagnosis and treatment of TB and other coinfections.

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Predictors of improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients who received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Sanglah General Hospital Denpasar

Public Health and Preventive Medicine Archive ◽

10.15562/phpma.v5i2.30 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 147

Author(s):

Gusti Ayu Eka Utarini ◽

Anak Agung Sagung Sawitri ◽

Tuti Parwati Merati

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

General Hospital ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Median Time ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Cd4 Count ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Art Initiation ◽

Hiv Aids

Background and purpose: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients. This study aims to examine proportion, median time, incidence rate, and predictors of improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients who received ART at Sanglah General Hospital Denpasar.Methods: A restrospective cohort study was conducted in Denpasar City. A total of 207 medical records of HIV/AIDS patients who received ART between 1st of January 2012 and 30th of June 2015 were included in the study. Kaplan Meier analysis was performed to calculate incidence rate and median time of improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients. Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical variables included body mass index (BMI), body weight, haemoglobin level, CD4 count, HIV clinical stadium, ART regiments, and opportunistic infections (OIs). Data were analysed using cox proportional hazard model to identify predictors of improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients.Results: As many as 65.22% of HIV/AIDS patients who received ART experienced an improvement in their nutritional status with the incidence rate of 9.1 per 100 person months and median time of 6.1 months. Multivariate analysis showed that predictors of improved nutritional status were BMI at ART initiation (AHR=1.34; 95%CI: 1.16-1.5), HIV clinical stadium (AHR=1.45; 95%CI: 1.02-2.06), CD4 count at ART initiation (AHR=0.89; 95%CI: 0.81-0.99) and the presence of diarrhoea (AHR=1.83; 95%CI: 1.06-3.14).Conclusions: Predictors of improved nutritional status among HIV/AIDS patients who received ART were BMI, HIV clinical stadium, CD4 count and diarrhoea.

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Outcome of antiretroviral therapy: a longitudinal study in Nalgonda district, Telangana

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20184728 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (12) ◽

pp. 5096

Author(s):

Misha Gorantla ◽

Varun M. Malhotra ◽

Kondagunta Nagaraj

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Economic Status ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Good Health ◽

Art Initiation ◽

One Year

Background: India is among the list of countries with highest HIV prevalence. Retention in care is vital to maintain good health and obtain antiretroviral therapy (ART) medicines on time. The objectives of the study were to study the clinico-demographic profile of study population and to study the outcome of ART after one year of treatment initiation.Methods: This is an observational follow up (longitudinal) study done on 142 patients which included all newly diagnosed (diagnosed on or after 1st January 2012), sero positive, adult patients, enrolled at an ART centre and started on treatment during the months of December 2012, January 2013, February 2013, using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire. They were visited again a year after ART initiation and outcome was assessed along with determinants of poor outcome.Results: Mortality at the end of one year was 9.15%, rate of loss to follow up (LFU) was 7.6%.Therefore a total of 73.2% cases were retained in care and 26.8% were disengaged from care (LFU and dead) after one year of ART initiation. Risk factors found to have significant association with being disengaged from care were male sex, unmarried/widowed/divorced/separated individuals, lower socio economic status, illiteracy, unskilled occupation, spouse status negative for HIV, presence of addictions like alcoholism, smoking, experience of drug side effects, early WHO clinical stage, presence of opportunistic infections and low CD4 counts.Conclusions: Many of the risk factors are amenable for intervention and may be incorporated to strengthen the programme.

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Factors associated with virological non-suppression among HIV-positive children receiving antiretroviral therapy at the Joint Clinical Research Centre in Lubowa, Kampala Uganda

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0246140

Author(s):

Sarah Nabukeera ◽

Joseph Kagaayi ◽

Fredrick Edward Makumbi ◽

Henry Mugerwa ◽

Joseph K. B. Matovu

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Side Effects ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Research Centre ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Art Initiation ◽

Stage 4

Background While the proportion of HIV-positive children (under 15 years) enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased in recent years, up to 60% of children started on ART do not achieve virological suppression. We set out to determine the factors associated with virological non-suppression among children living with HIV receiving ART at a peri-urban HIV care clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Method This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at the pediatric HIV/AIDS clinic at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Kampala, Uganda. Three hundred (300) HIV-positive children (0–14 years) were randomly selected from existing medical records and data on children’s socio-demographic and clinical characteristics (age at ART initiation, WHO clinical staging, and ART-induced side effects) were abstracted using a data abstraction form. Virological non-suppression was defined as a viral load ≥1000 copies/Ml of blood after six months of ART initiation. Incident rate ratios (IRRs) were determined as a measure of association between virological non-suppression and child/patient characteristics. The IRRs were obtained via a modified Poisson regression with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were done using statistical package, Stata version 15. Results The overall non-suppression rate among HIV-positive children on ART was 23%. Being at WHO clinical stage 4 at ART initiation [adj. IRR 2.74; 95%CI: 1.63, 4.61] and ART-induced side effects [adj. IRR 1.77; 95%CI: 1.06, 2.97] were significantly associated with non-suppression. Older age at ART initiation (age 5–9 years: [adj. IRR 0.42; 95%CI: 0.28, 0.65]; age 10–14 years: [adj. IRR 0.34; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.64] was less likely to be associated with virological non-suppression. Conclusion Nearly a quarter of HIV-positive children on ART had a non-suppressed viral load after six months of treatment. Being at WHO clinical stage 4 at ART initiation and ART-induced side effects were significantly associated with virological non-suppression while older age at ART initiation was protective. Our findings suggest a need for age-specific interventions, particularly those targeting children below five years of age, to improve virological suppression among HIV-positive children receiving ART in this setting.

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Longitudinal analysis of sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors of HIV-infected individuals in Kinshasa at antiretroviral therapy initiation during 2006-2017

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0259073 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. e0259073

Author(s):

Nadine Mayasi Ngongo ◽

Gilles Darcis ◽

Hippolyte Situakibanza Nanituna ◽

Marcel Mbula Mambimbi ◽

Nathalie Maes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Early Detection ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Median Time ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Disease ◽

Art Initiation ◽

Time To Initiation ◽

Advanced Hiv Disease

Background The benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) underpin the recommendations for the early detection of HIV infection and ART initiation. Late initiation (LI) of antiretroviral therapy compromises the benefits of ART both individually and in the community. Indeed, it promotes the transmission of infection and higher HIV-related morbidity and mortality with complicated and costly clinical management. This study aims to analyze the evolutionary trends in the median CD4 count, the median time to initiation of ART, the proportion of patients with advanced HIV disease at the initiation of ART between 2006 and 2017 and their factors. Methods and findings HIV-positive adults (≥ 16 years old) who initiated ART between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2017 in 25 HIV care facilities in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC, were eligible. The data were processed anonymously. LI is defined as CD4≤350 cells/μl and/or WHO clinical stage III or IV and advanced HIV disease (AHD), as CD4≤200 cells/μl and/or stage WHO clinic IV. Factors associated with advanced HIV disease at ART initiation were analyzed, irrespective of year of enrollment in HIV care, using logistic regression models. A total of 7278 patients (55% admitted after 2013) with an average age of 40.9 years were included. The majority were composed of women (71%), highly educated women (68%) and married or widowed women (61%). The median CD4 was 213 cells/μl, 76.7% of patients had CD4≤350 cells/μl, 46.1% had CD4≤200 cells/μl, and 59% of patients were at WHO clinical stages 3 or 4. Men had a more advanced clinical stage (p <0.046) and immunosuppression (p<0.0007) than women. Overall, 70% of patients started ART late, and 25% had AHD. Between 2006 and 2017, the median CD4 count increased from 190 cells/μl to 331 cells/μl (p<0.0001), and the proportions of patients with LI and AHD decreased from 76% to 47% (p< 0.0001) and from 18.7% to 8.9% (p<0.0001), respectively. The median time to initiation of ART after screening for HIV infection decreased from 40 to zero months (p<0.0001), and the proportion of time to initiation of ART in the month increased from 39 to 93.3% (p<0.0001) in the same period. The probability of LI of ART was higher in married couples (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3–2.3) (p<0.0007) and lower in patients with higher education (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.64–0.86) (p<0.0001). Conclusion Despite increasingly rapid treatment, the proportions of LI and AHD remain high. New approaches to early detection, the first condition for early ART and a key to ending the HIV epidemic, such as home and work HIV testing, HIV self-testing and screening at the point of service, must be implemented.

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Trends in one-year cumulative incidence of death between 2005 and 2013 among patients initiating antiretroviral therapy in Uganda

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462416671431 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 800-807 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lisa M Bebell ◽

Mark J Siedner ◽

Nicholas Musinguzi ◽

Yap Boum ◽

Bosco M Bwana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Cumulative Incidence ◽

Quality Care ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ecological Data ◽

Cd4 Cell Count ◽

Infected People ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Art Initiation ◽

One Year

Recent ecological data demonstrate improving outcomes for HIV-infected people in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, Uganda has experienced a resurgence in HIV incidence and prevalence, but trends in HIV-related deaths have not been well described. Data were collected through the Uganda AIDS Rural Treatment Outcomes (UARTO) Study, an observational longitudinal cohort of Ugandan adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2005 and 2013. We calculated cumulative incidence of death within one year of ART initiation, and fit Poisson models with robust variance estimators to estimate the effect enrollment period on one-year risk of death and loss to follow-up. Of 760 persons in UARTO who started ART, 30 deaths occurred within one year of ART initiation (cumulative incidence 3.9%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7–5.6%). Risk of death was highest for those starting ART in 2005 (13.0%, 95% CI 6.0–24.0%), decreased in 2006–2007 to 4% (95% CI 2.0–6.0%), and did not change thereafter ( P = 0.61). These results were robust to adjustment for age, sex, CD4 cell count, viral load, asset wealth, baseline depression, and body mass index. Here, we demonstrate that one-year cumulative incidence of death was high just after free ART rollout, decreased the following year, and remained low thereafter. Once established, ART programs in President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief-supported countries can maintain high quality care.

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Persistent Low-level Viremia While on Antiretroviral Therapy Is an Independent Risk Factor for Virologic Failure

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz129 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 2145-2152 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Christie Joya ◽

Seung Hyun Won ◽

Christina Schofield ◽

Tahaniyat Lalani ◽

Ryan C Maves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Virologic Failure ◽

Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

The Body ◽

Strand Transfer ◽

Low Level ◽

Art Initiation

Abstract Background Whether persistent low-level viremia (pLLV) predicts virologic failure (VF) is unclear. We used data from the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS), to examine the association of pLLV and VF. Methods NHS subjects who initiated combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) after 1996 were included if they had 2 or more VLs measured with a lower limit of detection of ≤50 copies/mL. VF was defined as a confirmed VL ≥200 copies/mL or any VL >1000 copies/mL. Participants were categorized into mutually exclusive virologic categories: intermittent LLV (iLLV) (VL of 50–199 copies/mL on <25% of measurements), pLLV (VL of 50–199 copies/mL on ≥25% of measurements), high-level viremia (hLV) (VL of 200–1000 copies/mL), and continuous suppression (all VL <50 copies/mL). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between VF and LLV; hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) are presented. Results Two thousand six subjects (median age 29.2 years, 93% male, 41% black) were included; 383 subjects (19%) experienced VF. After adjusting for demographics, VL, CD4 counts, ART regimen, prior use of mono or dual antiretrovirals, and time to ART start, pLLV (3.46 [2.42–4.93]), and hLV (2.29 [1.78–2.96]) were associated with VF. Other factors associated with VF include black ethnicity (1.33 [1.06–1.68]) and antiretroviral use prior to ART (1.79 [1.34–2.38]). Older age at ART initiation (0.71 [0.61–0.82]) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (0.68 [0.51–0.90]) or integrase strand transfer inhibitor use (0.26 [0.13–0.53]) were protective. Conclusion Our data add to the body of evidence that suggests persistent LLV is associated with deleterious virologic consequences.

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Survival Pattern and Its Determinants among Adult HIV-Infected Patients after Initiation of HAART in Dilla Hospital Ethiopia

Journal of Clinical & Experimental Immunology ◽

10.33140/jcei/01/01/00002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Drug Addiction ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Care Providers ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Risk Of Death

Background: In resource poor countries like Ethiopia the survival of patients treated with ART depends on a variety of factors, which might vary greatly with economic, demographic, behavioral and health risk factors. However, factors affecting survival in Ethiopia are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to determine causes of mortality in adult HIVpositive patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) in Dilla referral Hospital. Methods: The medical records of 1391 ART patients who enrolled at Dilla Hospital between 2010 and 2014 were reviewed and sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral and immunological data were collected. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to measure risk of death and identify the independent predictors of mortality. Result: Out of 1391 cohorts of adults ART patients 1081 (77.7%) were alive and continued their treatment in the hospital, 128 (9.2%) were reported dead, 111 (8%) were transfer out, and 71 (5.1%) were lost follow up. The probability of remaining alive and on treatment after 60 months of follow up was 89.3% for TB/HIV patients and 91.1% for HIV only infected patients. HIV patients who developed TB had shorter survival time than not developed TB. Death occurred 26% and 52% in the first 3 and 12 months of ART initiation respectively. The overall incidence rate of mortality during ART treatment was 3.5 per 100 person year observations (PYO). In multivariate analysis low body weight BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.39-7.76, P<0.0001), CD4 countless than 50 cells/mm3 (HR 4.55, 95% CI 1.19 – 8.44, p <0.002), anemia, WHO clinical stage III and IV, drug addiction and presence of active TB infection were predictor of survival and statistically significant association with mortality in HIV patients under ART follow up. Conclusion: The presence of lower baseline CD4-cell, TB infection, WHO clinical stage III and IV, lower body weight, anemia, and drug addiction were factors associated with mortality among ART clients. Improving nutritional status, prevention and control of TB and other opportunistic infections were the recalled recommendations to decrease AIDSrelated morality. These determinants should be taken into account by health care providers to enhance better clinical outcomes of ART attendees.

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Time to death among HIV-infected under-five children after initiation of anti-retroviral therapy and its predictors in Oromiya liyu zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s12887-021-03072-6 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bereka Tefera Marie ◽

Weldemariam Sintayehu Argaw ◽

Bitewa Yibelu Bazezew

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Severe Malnutrition ◽

Amhara Region ◽

Time To Death ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard Regression

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is infection which mainly attacks immune system of an individual. Its disease progress is rapid in children and if treatment is not initiated nearly half of infected children will die by the second year of infection. In Ethiopia, nearly twenty four percent of HIV related death is happen to under-five children; however studies done in this specific age group are limited are with poor evidence of predictors. Objectives To determine time to death and identify predictors of death in HIV infected under- five children on antiretroviral therapy in Amhara regional state, Oromia ‘liyu’ zone, Northeast Ethiopia, from 2014 to 2019. Methods Institution based retrospective follow up study was conducted in 376 under-five HIV- infected children on antiretroviral therapy from January 2014 to December 2019 in health institutions in Oromia Liyu Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Multivariable Cox-proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent predictors of mortality in HIV- infected under-five children on antiretroviral therapy. Result At the end of follow up, 304 (80.85%) of HIV-infected children were alive, 39 (10.95%) were lost to follow up, 12 (3.19%) were transferred out and 21 (5.59%) were reported dead due to HIV/AIDS. The cumulative survival probabilities of children after 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months were 0.99, 0.98, 0.97, 0.89 and 0.87 respectively. The overall mean time to death was 19.7 months (95%CI = 18.74–20.67) with incidence of 5.9 deaths per 100 child-months (95%CI: 3.89–9.09). Children with severe malnutrition at baseline (AHR = 4.9; 95 CI: 1.04, 23.50), advanced WHO clinical stage at enrolment (AHR = 3.9; CI: 1.37, 10.88), poor adherence to ART (AHR = 6.56; CI: 3.33, 10.14) and with no history of Isoniazide prophylaxis were significantly associated to higher mortality events (AHR = 3.6; CI: 1.24, 10.18). Conclusion Death of HIV-infected under-five children on ART is high within the first one year after enrolment. The risk of death increased if the child was malnourished at beginning of treatment, had poor ART adherence, with advanced WHO clinical stages and lack of Isoniazide prophylaxis during their age of infancy.

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Trends and predictors of mortality among HIV positive patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Uganda

Infectious Disease Reports ◽

10.4081/idr.2015.5967 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

John Rubaihayo ◽

Nazarius M. Tumwesigye ◽

Joseph Konde-Lule ◽

Fredrick Makumbi ◽

Edith J. Nakku ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Calendar Period ◽

Mortality Trends ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Predictors Of Mortality ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Highly Active

Knowledge of mortality trends and predictors among HIV-positive patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in resource poor settings is still limited. The aim of this study was to describe trends and predictors of mortality among HIV-positive patients in the era of HAART in Uganda. Data from 2004 to 2013 for adult HIV-positive patients (≥15 years) obtaining care and treatment from the AIDS Support Organization in Uganda were reviewed for mortality. Descriptive statistics were analyzed by frequencies and cross tabulations. Calendar period was used as a proxy measure for HAART exposure and a time plot of the proportion of HIV-positive patients reporting dead per year was used to describe the trends. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of mortality at bivariate and multivariate levels, respectively. We included in the analysis 95,857 HIV positive patients; 64% were female with median age of 33 years (interquartile range 27-40). Of these 36,133 (38%) were initiated on ART and a total of 4279 (4.5%) died; 19.5% (835/4279) of those who died had an opportunistic infection. Overall, mortality first increased between 2004 and 2006 and thereafter substantially declined (X2trend=211.9, P<0.001). Mortality was relatively higher in Eastern Uganda compared to other geographical areas. Male gender, older age (>45 years), being from Eastern or Northern Uganda, having none or primary education, being unemployed, advanced immunodeficiency (CD4 count <100 cell/μL or WHO stage III or IV) and underweight (<45 kg weight) at HAART initiation and calendar period 2004-2008 were significant predictors of mortality (P<0.001). Overall, the expanding coverage of HAART is associated with a declining trend in mortality among HIV positive patients in Uganda. However, mortality trends differed significantly by geographical area and men remain potentially at higher risk of death probably because of delayed initiation on ART. There is urgent need for men targeted interventions for improved ART performance.

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