4 research outputs found
Impact of Low-Level Viremia on Clinical and Virological Outcomes in Treated HIV Infected Patients
Impact of Low-Level Viremia on Clinical and Virological Outcomes in Treated HIV Infected Patients
Electronic coverage as of Dec. 30, 2003: Vol. 1, no. 1 (spring 2001)-; Description based on: Vol. 2, issue 1 (winter 2003); title from caption (viewed Dec. 30, 2003).; Harvested from the web on 10/25/0
Comparative effectiveness of immediate antiretroviral therapy versus CD4-based initiation in HIV-positive individuals in high-income countries: observational cohort study
Background Recommendations have differed nationally and internationally
with respect to the best time to start antiretroviral therapy (ART). We
compared effectiveness of three strategies for initiation of ART in
high-income countries for HIV-positive individuals who do not have AIDS:
immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per
mu L, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per mu L.
Methods We used data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration of cohort studies
in Europe and the USA. We included 55 826 individuals aged 18 years or
older who were diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between January, 2000, and
September, 2013, had not started ART, did not have AIDS, and had CD4
count and HIV-RNA viral load measurements within 6 months of HIV
diagnosis. We estimated relative risks of death and of death or
AIDS-defining illness, mean survival time, the proportion of individuals
in need of ART, and the proportion of individuals with HIV-RNA viral
load less than 50 copies per mL, as would have been recorded under each
ART initiation strategy after 7 years of HIV diagnosis. We used the
parametric g-formula to adjust for baseline and time-varying
confounders.
Findings Median CD4 count at diagnosis of HIV infection was 376 cells
per mu L (IQR 222-551). Compared with immediate initiation, the
estimated relative risk of death was 1.02 (95% CI 1.01-1.02) when ART
was started at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per mu L, and 1.06
(1.04-1.08) with initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per mu L.
Corresponding estimates for death or AIDS-defining illness were 1.06
(1.06-1.07) and 1.20 (1.17-1.23), respectively. Compared with immediate
initiation, the mean survival time at 7 years with a strategy of
initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per mu L was 2 days
shorter (95% CI 1-2) and at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per mu L
was 5 days shorter (4-6). 7 years after diagnosis of HIV, 100%, 98.7%
(95% CI 98.6-98.7), and 92.6% (92.2-92.9) of individuals would have
been in need of ART with immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count
less than 500 cells per mu L, and initiation at a CD4 count less than
350 cells per mu L, respectively. Corresponding proportions of
individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL at 7
years were 87.3% (87.3-88.6), 87.4% (87.4-88.6), and 83.8%
(83.6-84.9).
Interpretation The benefits of immediate initiation of ART, such as
prolonged survival and AIDS-free survival and increased virological
suppression, were small in this high-income setting with relatively low
CD4 count at HIV diagnosis. The estimated beneficial effect on AIDS is
less than in recently reported randomised trials. Increasing rates of
HIV testing might be as important as a policy of early initiation of
ART
Comparative effectiveness of immediate antiretroviral therapy versus CD4-based initiation in HIV-positive individuals in high-income countries: observational cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Recommendations have differed nationally and internationally with respect to the best time to start antiretroviral therapy (ART). We compared effectiveness of three strategies for initiation of ART in high-income countries for HIV-positive individuals who do not have AIDS: immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL.
METHODS
We used data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration of cohort studies in Europe and the USA. We included 55 826 individuals aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between January, 2000, and September, 2013, had not started ART, did not have AIDS, and had CD4 count and HIV-RNA viral load measurements within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. We estimated relative risks of death and of death or AIDS-defining illness, mean survival time, the proportion of individuals in need of ART, and the proportion of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL, as would have been recorded under each ART initiation strategy after 7 years of HIV diagnosis. We used the parametric g-formula to adjust for baseline and time-varying confounders.
FINDINGS
Median CD4 count at diagnosis of HIV infection was 376 cells per μL (IQR 222-551). Compared with immediate initiation, the estimated relative risk of death was 1·02 (95% CI 1·01-1·02) when ART was started at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and 1·06 (1·04-1·08) with initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL. Corresponding estimates for death or AIDS-defining illness were 1·06 (1·06-1·07) and 1·20 (1·17-1·23), respectively. Compared with immediate initiation, the mean survival time at 7 years with a strategy of initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL was 2 days shorter (95% CI 1-2) and at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL was 5 days shorter (4-6). 7 years after diagnosis of HIV, 100%, 98·7% (95% CI 98·6-98·7), and 92·6% (92·2-92·9) of individuals would have been in need of ART with immediate initiation, initiation at a CD4 count less than 500 cells per μL, and initiation at a CD4 count less than 350 cells per μL, respectively. Corresponding proportions of individuals with HIV-RNA viral load less than 50 copies per mL at 7 years were 87·3% (87·3-88·6), 87·4% (87·4-88·6), and 83·8% (83·6-84·9).
INTERPRETATION
The benefits of immediate initiation of ART, such as prolonged survival and AIDS-free survival and increased virological suppression, were small in this high-income setting with relatively low CD4 count at HIV diagnosis. The estimated beneficial effect on AIDS is less than in recently reported randomised trials. Increasing rates of HIV testing might be as important as a policy of early initiation of ART.
FUNDING
National Institutes of Health