Earlier Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation and Decreasing Mortality Among HIV-infected Infants Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy Within 3 Months of Age in South Africa, 2006-2017.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early infant diagnosis of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been rapidly scaled-up. We aimed to examine the effect of expanded access to early ART on the characteristics and outcomes of infants initiating ART.

Methods

From 9 cohorts within the International epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS-Southern Africa collaboration, we included infants with HIV initiating ART ≤3 months of age between 2006 and 2017. We described ART initiation characteristics and the probability of mortality, loss to follow-up (LTFU) and transfer out after 6 months on ART and assessed factors associated with mortality and LTFU.

Results

A total of 1847 infants started ART at a median age of 60 days [interquartile range: 29-77] and CD4 percentage (%) of 27% (18%-38%). Across

SUBMITTER: Iyun V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7073445 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature