First presentation for care of HIV-infected patients with low CD4 cell count in Lyon, France: risk factors and consequences for survival

[Factors associated to loss of follow-up in patients underwent antiretroviral therapy in an ambulatory HIV treatment center at Conakry]

BACKGROUND

Late or inadequate therapeutic management increases the risk of mortality associated with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to analyze the proportion and factors associated with loss of follow-up in HIV patients who receiving antiretroviral therapy at Conakry.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in HIV patients aged over 15 years and who receiving antiretroviral therapy. Between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2015, all patients managed by the ambulatory treatment center of the Guinean Women Association against AIDS and sexually and transmissible infection were included. Loss of follow-up was defined as no follow-up visit within 3 months. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze factors associated with loss of follow-up. Analyses were performed by using Stata 13 software.

RESULTS

614 patients aged 36.3±11.2 years, mainly females (68.4%) and living in Conakry (80.5%) were included. Among them, 104 were loss to follow-up, corresponding to a proportion rate of 16.9% (95% CI: 14.2-19.7%) or 5.79/100 person-years. The results of multivariate analyses showed that factors independently associated with loss of follow-up were malnutrition (AHR=7.05; 95% CI: 2.05-24.27; P=0.002) and CD4 cells account at the initiation of AHR (2.35; 95% CI: 1.61-6.39; P=0.016) in patients with 201-350 CD4/μL and 5.83 (95% CI: 2.85-11.90; P<0.001) in patients with less than 150CD4/μL.

CONCLUSION

Despite efforts of health care workers and free antiretroviral therapy, many patients were loss to follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that malnutrition and low CD4 account were independently associated with loss to follow-up.

Higher HIV RNA Viral Load in Recent Patients with Symptomatic Acute HIV Infection in Lyon University Hospitals

Introduction

Increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virulence at infection has been suggested by a meta-analysis based on viral load and CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4) count during acute infection. This result was obtained after secondary analyses of large databases, facilitating the detection of differences. Similar finding in cohorts of more modest sample size would indicate that the effect could be more substantial.

Methods

Change from initial CD4 count and HIV viral load after acute HIV infection by calendar year was explored in patients treated at Lyon University hospitals. All patients admitted to our hospitals with acute HIV infection between 1996 and 2013 were included in our study. Initial CD4 count and viral load before the start of anti-retroviral treatment were analyzed. Trends over time were assessed in linear models.

Results

Initial CD4 count remained similar over time. However, in 2006–2013, initial viral load rose significantly (+1.12 log₁₀/ml/year, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Our data, obtained from a single hospital cohort, confirmed findings from a large meta-analysis, showed increased initial viremia at acute HIV infection since 2006 and suggesting potentially higher HIV virulence in recent years.