Retrospective cohort analysis of antiretroviral therapy initiation timelines and clinical outcomes in adults with HIV and TB disease in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: BackgroundWe aimed to determine antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation timing and outcomes in people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving tuberculosis treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort analysis of routinely collected de-identified data from 62 clinics including PLHIV not already receiving ART aged ≥16 years, starting tuberculosis treatment between October 2016-November 2019. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust standard errors evaluated associations between timing of ART initiation (after starting tuberculosis treatment) and successful tuberculosis treatment, and 6-month HIV viral load (VL) < 50 copies/mL.ResultsAmong 5,548 PLHIV with tuberculosis, 29.8% initiated ART within 15 days ("early"), 36.2% in 16-56 days, 8.7% in 57-21

SUBMITTER: Jansen van Vuuren CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783376 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature