title: Evaluation of initial CD4+ T cell counts in individuals with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection, by sex and race, in urban settings.
abstract: The CD4+ T cell count is an important determinant of disease stage and prognosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. This study evaluated the CD4+ T cell counts in individuals at the time of diagnosis of HIV infection at 4 community clinics in large urban settings with relatively high frequencies of HIV infection. Of 2223 individuals, 57% and 36% had CD4+ T cell counts < 350 and < 200 cells/mm(3), respectively, at the time of diagnosis. There were no clear differences by sex or race. Enhanced educational efforts regarding the importance of HIV testing for at-risk individuals across sex and race strata in community settings may be important for early identification of individuals with HIV infection. This in turn could impact efforts to reduce transmission, and it could impact the prognosis for patients who receive antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 10 Rm. 11B-13, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. MDybul@niaid.nih.gov
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dybul
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Condoluci
authors.forename: Roxane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cox-Iyamu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Redfield
authors.forename: Claire W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hallahan
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folino
authors.forename: Kunthavi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sathasivam
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weisberg
authors.forename: Maryann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fauci
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006266:Health Education; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D044465:White People