title: Survival probability and predictors of mortality and retention in care among patients enrolled for first-line antiretroviral therapy, Andhra Pradesh, India, 2008-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The national antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiative in India began in 2004. In order to better inform the national program, we estimated the mean cumulative survival probability and loss to follow-up (LFU) rate among patients initiated on ART.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified a cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged ≥15 years initiated on ART in two ART centres in Hyderabad city, Andhra Pradesh state, India between January 2008 and December 2008. The cohort was followed-up until 31 December 2011 and death and/or LFU were the primary endpoints. Death from any cause during the study period was considered to be the result of HIV infection. We used the Kaplan-Meier estimation method for survival probability and Cox proportional hazard model to identify the predictors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1690 patients initiated on ART, 259 (15.3%) were transferred out during the study period. Mortality rate was 7.6/100 person-years. Male gender, low CD4 count, history of tuberculosis before initiation of ART, and weight <48 kg were the predictors of mortality. Patients who were LFU were more likely to be males, unemployed, widowed, and had weight below 48 kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survival rates on ART were higher compared to other resource-limited settings. Delayed diagnosis and initiation of ART and co-infection with TB were important predictors for both mortality and retention in care.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Epidemiology, R-127, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, Ayapakkam, Chennai-600 077, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh Reddy
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Allam
authors.forename: Manoj V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Murhekar
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Chengappa K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Uthappa
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chava
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Rewari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehendale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: ART; HIV; India; Loss to follow-up; Survival analysis