Monitoring for advanced disease in the universal test and treat era: trends in CD4 count testing in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Under South Africa's Universal Test and Treat (UTT) policy, CD4 counts are no longer required to determine HIV treatment eligibility. However, CD4 count at presentation remains an important marker of disease progression. We assessed whether CD4 testing declined in the UTT era and, if so, by how much.

Methods

We analysed CD4 count data from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) National HIV Cohort and TIER.Net database for individuals in HIV care across five South African provinces. "First CD4 count" was defined as the first CD4 test recorded for each patient. In TIER.Net, "date of presentation" was the earliest date of HIV testing, CD4 measurement, or clinic visit. Trends in first CD4 testing volumes (2004-2018) were analyzed, with interrupted time-series

SUBMITTER: Nattey C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11694356 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature