title: Comparing the effectiveness of efavirenz and nevirapine for first-line antiretroviral therapy in a South African multicentre cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current WHO guidelines for developing countries recommend efavirenz (EFV) and nevirapine (NVP) for first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART). This paper compares the effectiveness of EFV and NVP among ART-naive patients initiating treatment at 56 public health facilities in South Africa between January 2004 and December 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assigned to the EFV or NVP cohorts depending on their baseline ART regimen. Mortality, viral load suppression after 6 months and ART regimen change were compared between the cohorts using Cox proportional hazards models and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At initiation, 19 441 (71.1%) patients started EFV and 7909 (28.9%) started NVP treatment. The median follow-up period was 9.5 months (IQR 4.6-17.7). After adjustment, mortality was similar in the two cohorts, (adjusted HR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.89-1.28). Viral load suppression at 6 months was higher in the EFV cohort overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.59) and in women aged 16-40 years (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.11-1.63) and women with CD4 counts <25 cells/µL (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.01-3.76). Patients starting on EFV were 47% less likely to change regimen (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.48-0.59).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the superior effectiveness of EFV for first-line ART compared with NVP and should be considered during development of future ART guidelines for high-burden regions.
authors.affiliation: Kheth'Impilo, Green Square, 37 Hares Crescent, Woodstock, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fatti
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013019:South Africa; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019829:Nevirapine; C098320:efavirenz
keywords: AIDS; Antiretrovirals; Efavirenz; Guidelines; Nevirapine; Teratogencity