title: Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in patients with a CD4 count of less than 350 cells: a retrospective audit against key indicators from the CQUIN payment framework.
abstract: A proportion of funding for the South Yorkshire HIV Network is dependant on meeting the targets of the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment framework. This states that 85% of patients with a CD4 count below 350 should be on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We also audited how many patients we started on treatment within six weeks. We found 88% of the 243 patients were on ART at the end of the audit, but significantly less had been started on treatment within six weeks of their CD4 count falling below 350. Although the target was achieved, there were patients who should be excluded as shown by other clinical guidelines, for example patients on treatment for tuberculosis. If these patients were excluded and the threshold level increased, it would help emphasize the at-risk patient group and lead to a fairer allocation of funding.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield; Rotherham General Hospital, Rotherham; Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster, UK. rachel.mercer@nhs.net
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olarinde
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yeeles
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Meardon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D054869:Clinical Audit; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents