Mortality and causes of death in HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at Tshepang Clinic in Doctor George Mukhari Hospital.
BACKGROUND
Since the initiation of regular antiretroviral therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in South Africa in 2004, data on effects of HAART on mortality are not available in our hospital.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe mortality trends and causes of deaths among HIV-infected patients in the HAART era.


METHODS
Consecutive HIV-infected adults who were prescribed HAART in our hospital were prospectively followed-up from July 2004 to December 2006 or until death, loss to follow-up, discontinuation of HAART or referral to another center.


RESULTS
Out of 2605 HIV-infected patients analyzed at the end of 2006, 7.8% (n = 205) died. The causes of these 205 deaths were dominated by AIDS related disorders such as opportunistic infection (47.6%) and advanced AIDS status (37.3%). Non-AIDS infectious diseases, liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers were rare. Mortality rate was higher in males (28%, p < 0.0001) than females (8%) as well as in subgroup with CD4 cell counts < 200/microl (8%, p < 0.0001) than in subgroup with CD4 cell counts > 200/microl (4.9%). There was a negative significant dose - response relationship (p for linear trend < 0.0001) between mortality and baseline CD4 cell counts among patients with CD4 cell counts < 200/microl, 13% in the CD4 < 50/microl group, 6% in the CD4 51-100/microl group, 5.5% in the CD4101-150/microl group, and 3% in the CD4 > 151/microl group. Mortality was not associated with age and HAART regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention of AIDS-defining conditions and expansion of earlier access to HAART could substantially reduce mortality in resource-poor settings.
Mzileni
Mogiyana Olga
MO
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Limpopo, Pretoria, South Africa. mzileni@medunsa.ac.za
Longo-Mbenza
Benjamin
B
Chephe
Tlou James
TJ
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000401:mortality; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002423:Cause of Death; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents