title: Excessive early mortality in the first year of treatment in HIV type 1-infected patients initiating antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings.
abstract: The response to treatment and risk factors for early mortality following initiation of combination antiretrovirals(ARVs) in a cohort of African patients are described in a retrospective cohort design. Medical history, laboratory parameters, and mortality data were reviewed for patients initiating ARVs in 12 clinical centers in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi. Among 3456 HIV-1-infected patients who received ARVs for more than 6 months, at baseline 72% had WHO clinical stages 3/4, 7% had a viral load 400 copies/ml, and 38% had a CD4 cell count >200/microl. One year later, 78% had undetectable virus loads and 79% had CD4 cell counts >200 cells/mm3. In the first year of HAART 260 deaths occurred (97 per 1000 person/years) with mortality peaking in the first 3 months. The highest mortality was observed in patients with low BMI, low hemoglobin levels, and CD4 values <200 cells/microl at baseline. Mortality rates following initiation of HAART are higher in patients in resource-limited areas, particularly in the first 90 days following treatment initiation.HAART initiated at higher CD4 cell count levels, especially among malnourished and/or anemic patients, will carry significant public health impact.
authors: LUMSA University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Marazzi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Liotta
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Germano
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Guidotti
authors: A Doro
authors: AD
authors: Altan
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Ceffa
authors: Massimo Magnano San
authors: MM
authors: Lio
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Nielsen-Saines
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Palombi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents