Outcomes and factors associated with survival of patients with HIV/AIDS initiating antiretroviral treatment in Liangshan Prefecture, southwest of China: A retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2013

Case management strategy enhances virological response in people living with human immunodeficiency virus in a resource-limited region in Southwest China: a real-world prospective observational study

This study assessed the effectiveness of case management compared to that of standard care in improving treatment outcomes for first-time antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients in Liangshan Prefecture, China. First-time ART patients (total n = 828) were divided into the Standard Care Group (SCG, n = 419) and Case Management Group (CMG, n = 409). At week 48, the CMG showed higher retention rates (97.7% vs. 93.6%), better adherence, and more complete virological responses (84.2% vs. 64.0%) compared to the SCG. These findings suggest that case management improves adherence and virological suppression in resource-limited areas, though further research is needed to confirm its broader applicability.

Changes in early HIV/AIDS mortality rates in people initiating antiretroviral treatment between 2013 and 2023: A 10-year multicenter survival study in Senegal

BACKGROUND

HIV/AIDS-related early mortality has long been a significant challenge. Subsequent to recent policy changes and treatment advancements, we aimed to assess changes in early mortality rates in 2017-19 and 2020-23 compared to 2013-16.

METHODS

This is a 10-year multicenter survival study in people living with human immunodeficiency virus having initiated ART between 2013 and 2023. We used frailty-based competing risk models to estimate adjusted early (6-month and one-year) mortality hazard ratios (HRs) in people living with HIV (PwHIV) having initiated ART in 2013-16 (comparator), 2017-19, and 2020-23.

RESULTS

We enrolled 4006 persons of whom 2281 (56.9 %) were female; median age was 40 years (IQR: 31-50); 635 (15.9 %) were at WHO clinical stage IV and 934 (23.3 %) had a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3. Median follow-up was 80.4 months (IQR: 48.6-106.7). All in all, 463 participants died (4.37 deaths per 100 person-years), including 296 at one year of follow-up (7.4 % [95 % CI: 6.6-8.2]). ART initiation in 2016-19 and 2020-23 was associated with 27 % (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.73; 95 % CI: 0.55-0.98) and 63 % (aHR: 0.37; 95 % CI: 0.25-0.56) reductions in one-year mortality rates, respectively, compared to the 2013-16 period.

CONCLUSION

Early mortality risk has significantly decreased over time in Senegal. However, the proportion of PwHIV with AIDS-defining conditions remains concerning. Continued efforts to ensure early diagnosis and prompt linkage to care are needed for more impact.

Demographic and clinical factors correlated with clinical outcomes among people with HIV treated by antiretroviral therapy: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

As is known, CD4 cell count is a significant parameter predicting HIV progression, opportunistic infections and death in HIV-infected individuals, as well was an important indicator for initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). In China's National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program, people with HIV (PWH) on ART can receive a CD4 count test at least once every six months. Importantly, the baseline CD4 count (before ART initiation) is significantly correlated with ART and even prognosis, but the influence of the peak CD4 cell count on ART and/or clinical outcomes is still unknown.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted among 7965 PWH who received ART from October 2003 to September 2022 at Yunnan Infectious Disease Hospital. Clinical features and laboratory data were collected and analyzed by Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. After elimination of confounding variables, multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify survival-related factors.

RESULTS

Of a total of 7965 PWH in the ART treatment cohort who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7939 were finally included in the subsequent analyses. First, it was found that the proportion of clinical variables, including sex, age distribution, interval from diagnosis to ART initiation, marital status, and others, was significantly different between the living and dead groups (P < 0.05). Impressively, significantly more PWH had the higher level of baseline, peak and recent CD4 cell counts in the living group compared to those in the dead group. Due to multicollinearity effect, after excluding confounders, the following factors were found to be significantly associated with mortality by multivariate Cox regression analysis: (1) male sex (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.268 [1.032, 1.559]; P = 0.024); (2) time from HIV confirmation to ART initiation ≥ 6 months (HR = 1.962 [1.631, 2.360]; P < 0.001); (3) peak CD4 cell count: Peak CD4 < 100cells/µL group (HR = 16.093 [12.041, 21.508]; P < 0.001), 100cells/µL ≤ x < 200cells/µL group (HR = 7.904 [6.148, 10.160]; P < 0.001), 200cells/µL ≤ x < 350cells/µL group (HR = 3.166 [2.519, 3.980]; P < 0.001), 350cells/µL ≤ x < 500cells/µL group (HR = 1.668 [1.291, 2.155]; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Interestingly, patients in male, time from HIV confirmation to ART initiation ≥ 6 months, or peak CD4 count < 500 cells/µl had inferior clinical outcomes, in other word, a lower peak CD4 cell count significantly increased the risk of death, and peak CD4 cell was independent in predicting the overall survival of PWH. It is important to promote "early diagnosis and treatment of HIV" and regularly monitor CD4 levels in HIV/AIDS to evaluate the efficacy of ART and immune reconstitution, and optimize the ART regimen in time to further reduce the mortality of PWH.

Survival analysis of PLWHA undergoing combined antiretroviral therapy: exploring long-term prognosis and influencing factors

Introduction

The survival time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals or patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is influenced by multiple factors. Studying survival and influential factors after antiretroviral therapy (ART) contributes to improving treatment protocols, management strategies, and prognosis for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study collected case data and follow-up records of PLWHA who received ART in Dazu District, Chongqing City, between 2007 and 2022. Cumulative survival rates were calculated using life tables. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Uni-variable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models analyzed factors influencing survival.

Results

The study included 5,237 PLWHA receiving ART. Within the first year of ART initiation, 146 AIDS-related deaths occurred, accounting for 29.49% (146/495) of total deaths. Cumulative survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were 0.97, 0.90, 0.85, and 0.79, respectively. During the observation period, male patients who received ART had a 1.89 times higher risk of death compared to females (aHR, 1.89; 95%; CI, 1.50-2.37). Patients aged ≥60 years had a 3.44-fold higher risk of death than those aged <30 years (aHR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.22-9.67). Injection drug users (aHR, 4.95; 95% CI, 2.00-12.24) had a higher risk of death than those with heterosexual (aHR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.69-3.72) and homosexual transmission. Patients with a baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte count <200 cells/μL (aHR, 8.02; 95% CI, 4.74-13.57) and between 200 and 349 cells/μL (aHR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.26-3.64) had a higher risk of death than those with ≥350 cells/μL. Patients with ART initiation at WHO clinical stage IV had a 2.48-fold higher risk of death than those at stage I (aHR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.17-5.23).

Conclusion

The first year following ART initiation is critical in HIV/AIDS treatment, emphasizing the need for intensified follow-up and monitoring to facilitate successful immune system reconstruction. Older age, male sex, injection drug use, baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte count <200 cells/μL, and WHO clinical stage IV are associated with an increased risk of death. Tailored treatment and management strategies should be implemented for patient populations at higher risk of mortality and with a poorer prognosis.

Clinico-demographic and survival profile of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment

OBJECTIVE

To assess the demographic, clinical, and survival profile of people living with HIV.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients enrolled at a single antiretroviral therapy center in North Karnataka. A total of 11,099 were recruited from April 2007 to January 2020, out of which 3,676 were excluded and the final 7,423 entries were subjected to analysis. The outcome of interest was the time to death in months of people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The clinical and demographic characteristics were examined as potential risk factors for survival analysis. To investigate the factors that influence the mortality of patients using ART, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed. Hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and p-values were presented to show the significance. The log-rank test was used to determine the significance of the Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

RESULTS

Out of 7,423 HIV-positive people, majority were female (51.4%), heterosexual typology (89.2%), and in the age group 31-45 years (45.5%). The risk of death in male patients was 1.24 times higher (95% CI: 1.14-1.35) than female patients. Patients with age >45 were 1.67 times more likely to die than patients ≤30 (95% CI: 1.50-1.91). In the multivariable analysis, the hazards of mortality increased by 3.11 times (95% CI: 2.09-2.79) in patients with baseline CD4 count ≤50 as compared to those who had baseline CD4 count >200. The risk of death in patients who were diagnosed with TB was 1.30 times more (95% CI: 1.19-1.42) than in those who did not have TB. The survival probabilities at 3 and 90 months were more in female patients (93%, 70%) compared with male patients (89, 54%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study proved that age, sex, baseline CD4 count, and tuberculosis (TB) status act as risk factors for mortality among people with HIV. Prevention strategies, control measures, and program planning should be done based on the sociodemographic determinants of mortality.

Survival and risk factors associated with mortality in people living with HIV from 2005 to 2018 in Nanjing, China

Background

Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) decreased the mortality of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV), substantially, hundreds of thousands of people are dying of AIDS each year. The accurate survival patterns and factors related to death among PLHIV were rarely reported. In this study, we evaluated survival status and identified factors associated with death among PLHIV in Nanjing.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of PLHIV followed-up in Nanjing and registered to the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive management information system from 2005 to 2018. We used the life table to calculate the cumulative survival rates. We applied the Kaplan-Meier to calculate median survival times and employed cox hazard proportional regression to analyze the associated factors related to death.

Results

The median survival time of PLHIV was 11.8 (95%CI:11.6-11.9) years from 2005 to 2018. Among 4,235 PLHIV included in this study, 7.5% had died of AIDS-related disease and the AIDS-related mortality rate was 2.0/100 PYs. The cumulative proportion surviving at the end of the interval was 95.2% over the 1st year, 94.0% over the 2nd year, 91.8% over the 5th year, and 85.4% over the 10th year, respectively. PLHIV who unaccepted ART showed a greater risk of death compared to those who accepted ART (AHR = 16.2, 95%CI:11.9~22.2). For baseline CD4 count, compared to CD4 < 200 cell/μL, higher CD4 count was demonstrated as a protective factor, with AHR = 0.2 (95%CI: 0.1~0.3) for ≥500 cell/μL, AHR = 0.3 (95%CI:0.2~0.4) for 350~499 cell/μL, AHR = 0.4 (95%CI:0.3~0.6 for 200~349 cell/μL). In addition, we observed a higher death risk in PLHIV who were screened through outpatient (AHR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1~2.2) and inpatient (AHR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1~2.5) compared to through VCT; the age of diagnosis was ≥50 years old (AHR = 9.5, 95%CI: 3.7~24.1) and 25~49 years old (AHR = 5.0, 95%CI: 2.0~12.3) compared to ≤ 24 years old; educated from junior and below (AHR = 3.4, 95%CI: 2.3~5.1) and Senior high school (AHR = 1.7, 95%CI: 1.1~2.7) compared to college and above.

Conclusion

The AIDS-related mortality among PLHIV in Nanjing was relatively low. A higher risk for AIDS-related deaths were observed among PLHIV who unaccepted ART, whose baseline CD4 cell count was<200 cell/μL, older age, and lower educated.

Mortality and Its Predictors among Adult Human Immune-Deficiency Virus-Infected Patients Attending Their Antiretroviral Treatment at Health Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

In resource-limited settings such as Ethiopia, where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high, a number of factors, including economic, demographic, behavioral risk, and health factors, affect how long people with AIDS are treated with antiretroviral therapy. Since several aspects of the clinical setup may have an impact on ART patients' survival, this study was conducted in health centers. Determining the mortality rate and survival factors among adult HIV-infected patients receiving ART at health centers in Addis Abeba's Kirkos subcity is the primary goal of this study.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out at the health center in Addis Abeba's Kirkos subcity. The source population consisted of all adult HIV-positive patients who were being followed up between December 1, 2014, and October 30, 2019. A total of 665 samples were collected using a computer-generated simple random sampling method in each of the three health centers that were chosen by a lottery system depending on the number of patients in the follow-up. Trained data collectors took the information out of the patient card and the electronic database. Regressions using the Kaplan‐Meier and Cox proportional hazards were employed.

Results

The incidence of death rate in adult HIV-positive patients was 55 (8.5%) fatalities, translating to a death rate of 3.25 per 100 person-years. The majority of deaths occurred within 6 months of ART initiation. Predictors of mortality were: age above 50 years (AHR = 4.90, 95% CI: 2.00, 11.98), tuberculosis comorbidity (AHR = 3.46, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.33), lack of drug adherence (AHR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.33), co-trimoxazole therapy (AHR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.37, 4.90), and CD4 cell count less than 200/dl (AHR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.30, 5.92). Conclusion and Recommendation. Adult HIV-positive individuals had an incidence of the death rate of 55 (8.5%), which equates to 3.25 deaths per 100 person-years. Age category over 50, TB comorbidity, WHO stage IV, lack of medication adherence, co-trimoxazole therapy, body mass index under 18.5 kg/m², and CD4 cell count under 200/dl were predictors of mortality. Therefore, it is important to focus on prevention, early identification, and treatment of HIV/AIDS for these predictors at all levels of the HIV/AIDS chronic care package in order to increase survival.

Relationships of Illness Perceptions with Depression and Anxiety in People Who Live with HIV/AIDS in a High-prevalence Ethnic Autonomous Region of Sichuan, China

Poor mental health challenges outcomes and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and may be related to illness perceptions. To investigate if depression and anxiety were associated with illness perceptions, we drew a random sample of 729 PLWHA from 13 administrative units in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan, China. Among the PLWHA surveyed, 222 and 175 had probable anxiety or depression. In mixed-effects logistic regression, negative illness perceptions were associated with increased odds of anxiety/depression. In linear mixed-effects quantile regression, the relationship of more negative illness perceptions with more severe and frequent symptoms of anxiety/depression grew stronger in the upper quantiles of the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 distributions, well beyond scale cut-offs for probable clinical relevance. We hypothesize that negative illness perceptions of HIV/AIDS and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms may mutually reinforce each other. Illness perceptions are a promising intervention target for improving the mental health of PLWHA.

Determinants of suboptimal immune recovery among a Chinese Yi ethnicity population with sustained HIV suppression

OBJECTIVES

Despite sustained viral suppression with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-infected patients with suboptimal immune recovery are still at high risk of both non-AIDS-related and AIDS-related events. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants potentially associated with suboptimal CD4 + T cell count recovery during free ART with sustained viral suppression among an HIV-infected Yi ethnicity population in Liangshan Prefecture, an area in China with high HIV prevalence.

METHODS

This retrospective study included HIV-infected Yi adults (≥ 18 years and baseline CD4 + T cell count less than 500 cells/μL) for whom ART supported by National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program was initiated between January 2015 and December 2018 in Zhaojue County, Liangshan Prefecture. Virological suppression (viral load < 50 copies/mL) was achieved within 12 months after ART initiation, and sustained virological suppression was maintained. Multivariate log-binomial regression analysis was used to assess determinants of suboptimal immune recovery.

RESULTS

There were 140 female and 137 male patients in this study, with a mean age of 36.57 ± 7.63 years. Most of the Yi patients were infected through IDU (48.7%) or heterosexual contact (49.8%), and the anti-HCV antibody prevalence was high (43.7%, 121/277). Of the 277 patients with a mean ART duration of 3.77 ± 1.21 years, complete immune recovery occurred in only 32.9%. The baseline CD4 + T cell count in patients with suboptimal and intermediate immune recovery was 248.64 ± 108.10 and 288.59 ± 108.86 cells/μL, respectively, which was much lower than the baseline 320.02 ± 123.65 cells/μL in patients who achieved complete immune recovery (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that low pre-ART CD4 + cell count and coinfection with HCV were associated with immune recovery of the HIV patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that for HIV-infected Yi patients in Liangshan Prefecture, prompt ART initiation after diagnosis of HIV infection should be applied, and curative HCV treatment should be given to patients with HCV/HIV coinfection to improve the immunological effectiveness of ART. Trial registration None.

Construction and validation of a prognostic nomogram for predicting the survival of HIV/AIDS adults who received antiretroviral therapy: a cohort between 2003 and 2019 in Nanjing

BACKGROUND

Great achievements have been achieved by free antiretroviral therapy (ART). A rapid and accurate prediction of survival in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) is needed for effective management. We aimed to establish an effective prognostic model to forecast the survival of PLHIV after ART.

METHODS

The participants were enrolled from a follow-up cohort over 2003-2019 in Nanjing AIDS Prevention and Control Information System. A nested case-control study was employed with HIV-related death, and a propensity-score matching (PSM) approach was applied in a ratio of 1:4 to allocate the patients. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed based on the training set to determine the risk factors. The discrimination was qualified using the area under the curve (AUC) and concordance index (C-Index). The nomogram was calibrated using the calibration curve. The clinical benefit of prognostic nomogram was assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Predictive factors including CD4 cell count (CD4), body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin (HB) were determined and incorporated into the nomogram. In the training set, AUC and C-index (95% CI) were 0.831 and 0.798 (0.758, 0.839), respectively. The validation set revealed a good discrimination with an AUC of 0.802 and a C-index (95% CI) of 0.786 (0.681, 0.892). The calibration curve also exhibited a high consistency in the predictive power (especially in the first 3 years after ART initiation) of the nomogram. Moreover, DCA demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically beneficial.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram is effective and accurate in forecasting the survival of PLHIV, and beneficial for medical workers in health administration.

Development and external validation of a prognostic model for survival of people living with HIV/AIDS initiating antiretroviral therapy

Background: Most existing prognostic models for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were derived from cohorts in high-income settings established a decade ago and may not be applicable for contemporary patients, especially for patients in developing settings. The aim of this study was to develop and externally validate a prognostic model for survival in PLWHA initiating ART based on a large population-based cohort in China.

Methods: We obtained data for patients from the Chinese National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program database. The derivation cohort consisted of PLWHA treated between February 2004 and December 2019 in a tertiary center in Guangzhou, South China, and validation cohort of patients treated between February 2004 to December 2018 in another tertiary hospital in Shenyang, Northeast China. We included ART-naive patients aged above 16 who initiated a combination ART regimen containing at least three drugs and had at least one follow-up record. We assessed 20 candidate predictors including patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and laboratory tests for an endpoint of death from all causes. The prognostic model was developed from a multivariable cox regression model with predictors selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso). To assess the model's predictive ability, we quantified the discriminative power using the concordance (C) statistic and calibration accuracy by comparing predicted survival probabilities with observed survival probabilities estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method.

Findings: The derivation cohort included 16481 patients with a median follow-up of 3·41 years, among whom 735 died. The external validation cohort comprised 5751 participants with a median follow-up of 2·71 years, of whom 185 died. The final model included 10 predictors: age, body mass index, route of HIV acquisition, coinfection with tuberculosis, coinfection with hepatitis C virus, haemoglobin, CD4 cell count, platelet count, aspartate transaminase, and plasma glucose. The C-statistic was 0·84 (95% confidence interval 0·82–0·85) in internal validation after adjustment of optimism and 0·84 (0·82–0·87) in external validation, which remained consistently above 0·75 in all landmark time points within five years of follow up when using time-updated laboratory measurements. The calibration accuracy was satisfactory in both derivation and validation cohorts.

Interpretation: We have developed and externally validated a model to predict long-term survival in PLWHA on ART. This model could be applied to individualized patient counseling and management during treatment, and future innovative trial design.

Funding: Natural Science Foundation of China Excellent Young Scientists Fund, Natural Science Foundation of China International/Regional Research Collaboration Project, Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientist Fund, the National Science and Technology Major Project of China,National Special Research Program of China for Important Infectious Diseases, 13th Five-Year Key Special Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Joint-innovation Program in Healthcare for Special Scientific Research Projects of Guangzhou.

Survival and Prognostic Factors of HIV-positive Patients after Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation at a Malaysian Referral Hospital

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and significantly improved survival rates, but there is lack of such survival data from Malaysia.

Objective

The objective was to determine the survival rates and prognostic factors of survival in HIV-infected adults treated with ART in Malaysia.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective cohort study considered all HIV-positive adult patients registered in Sungai Buloh Hospital, a major referral center in Malaysia, between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016. Then, patients were selected through a systematic sampling method. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were extracted from electronic medical records. Person-years at risk and incidence of mortality rate per 100 person-years were calculated. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to compare the overall survival rates. Cox proportional hazards regression was applied to determine the prognostic factors for survival.

Results

A total of 339 patients were included. The estimated overall survival rates were 93.8%, 90.4%, 84.9%, and 72.8% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively, from ART initiation. The results of multiple Cox proportional hazard regression indicated that anemic patients were at a 3.76 times higher risk of mortality (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.97-7.18; P < 0.001). The hazard risk was 2.09 times higher for HIV patients co-infected with tuberculosis (95% CI: 1.10, 3.96; P = 0.024).

Conclusion

The overall survival rates among HIV-infected adults in this study are higher than that from low-income countries but lower than that from high-income countries. Low baseline hemoglobin levels of <11 g/dL and tuberculosis co-infection were strong prognostic factors for survival.

Survival, CD4 T lymphocyte count recovery and immune reconstitution pattern during the first-line combination antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV-1 infection in Mongolia

Mongolia has a low incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with 281 cases reported at the end of 2019 and an estimated incidence rate of <0.01 cases per 1000 population.

However, no study has analyzed the association between antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes and pretreatment characteristics of patients with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Mongolia. This retrospective study aimed to determine the survival, CD4 T cell recovery, and immune reconstitution pattern during ART in HIV patients and to determine baseline patient characteristics associated with ART outcomes. Based on three different World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, we analyzed the 3-year observation data of 166 patients with HIV/AIDS who received treatment between 2010 and 2017. An increase of >50 cells/μL indicated CD4 T cell count recovery, and a cell count of ≥500 cells/μL in patients with a baseline cell count of <500 cells/μL indicated immune reconstitution. In this study, the 3- and 1-year mortality rates were 5.4% (survival rate: 94.6%) and 3.6%, respectively. A total of 83% of deaths that occurred in the observation time occurred within the first 3 months. The CD4 T cell count recovery rates at 3, 12, and 36 months were 62.7%, 80.7%, and 89.2%, respectively. The CD4 T cell count increased to >500 cells/μL in 95 of 145 (65.5%) patients with a baseline cell count of <500 cells/μL after 36 months of ART. The baseline CD4 T cell count was found to be a sensitive indicator for immune reconstitution. An advanced pretreatment clinical stage of HIV infection (as classified by the WHO classification), a low CD4 T cell count in the peripheral blood, and a high viral load before the initiation of the first-line ART accurately predicted survival, CD4 T cell count recovery, and immune reconstitution in Mongolian patients with HIV/AIDS.

Trends of Cause of Death among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients and the Impact of Low CD4 Counts on Diagnosis to Death: a Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Monitoring the full spectrum of causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients has become increasingly important as survival improves because of highly active antiretroviral therapy. However, there are no recently published data regarding the changes in the causes of death among HIV patients based on year of HIV diagnosis, and the impact of low CD4 count at the time of HIV diagnosis on the clinical outcome is still unclear in Korea.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 801 patients with HIV infection who were followed up at a tertiary university hospital and diagnosed with HIV between July 1984 and October 2019. The causes of death were analyzed by descriptive analysis based on CD4 count and the year of HIV diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier and log rank tests were performed to compare the prognosis between the CD4 < 200 cells/mm³ and CD4 ≥ 200 cells/mm³ groups.

RESULTS

Among 801 patients, 67 patients were eligible for the death cause analysis. Infection-related death accounted for 44 patients (65.7%) and non-infection related death accounted for 23 patients (32.4%). Pneumocystis pneumonia (29.9%) was the single most common cause of death in both past and present cases, and tuberculosis (19.4%) was the second leading cause of death from infections, but the frequency has declined in recent years. Causes of infection-related death have decreased, whereas non-infection related causes of death have increased remarkably. Malignancy-related death was the most common cause of non-infection related death. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) non-related malignancy accounted for 11.9%, whereas AIDS-related malignancy accounted for 6.0% of the total death among HIV patients. No significant statistical differences were found in mortality rate (P = 0.228), causes of death (P = 0.771), or survival analysis (P = 0.089) between the CD4 < 200 cells/mm³ and CD4 ≥ 200 cells/mm³ groups.

CONCLUSION

Being diagnosed with CD4 < 200 cells/mm³ at the time of HIV diagnosis was not an indicator of greater risk of death compared with the CD4 ≥ 200 cells/mm³ group. Malignant tumors have become an important cause of death in recent years, and an increasing tendency of AIDS-non-related malignancy causes has been observed.

Sex differences in HIV treatment outcomes and adherence by exposure groups among adults in Guangdong, China: A retrospective observational cohort study

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to assess sex differences in treatment outcomes and adherence comparing men who have sex with women (MSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and women who have sex with men (WSM), as well as men and women who inject drugs living with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Guangdong, China.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study with data from the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program database. We included ART-naive patients aged 18 to 80 years who had contracted HIV through sex or injecting drugs, initiated first-line ART between January 2004 and December 2016, and had at least 60 days of follow-up. Participants were followed for five years. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate all-cause mortality. Cumulative incidence function and Cox proportional hazards models accounting for competing risks were used to evaluate disease progression to AIDS. Modified Poisson regression models were used to evaluate immunological and virological responses and loss to follow-up. Repeated measures analysis was used to evaluate regular CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load monitoring, ART adherence, side effects, and interruption of ART.

FINDINGS

We included 26,409 persons living with HIV. 21,779 (82·5%) people acquired HIV through sex (5118 WSM [23·5%], 8506 MSW [39·0%], 8175 MSM [37·5%]), and 4610 people (17·5%) through injection drug use (249 women [5·4%], 4361 men [94·6%]). Among those infected through sex, MSW had increased risks of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1·48, 95% CI 1·20-1·83), progression to AIDS (1·27, 1·09-1·47), virological failure (adjusted incidence rates ratio [aIRR] 1·27, 95% CI 1·09-1·48), and loss to follow-up (1·22, 1·10-1·35) compared to WSM. In contrast, MSM had lower risk of all-cause mortality (aHR 0·49, 95%CI 0·32-0·76), disease progression to AIDS (0·83, 0·68-1·00), and virological failure (aIRR 0·78, 95%CI 0·65-0·94), were more likely to receive regular CD4+ cell count (1·08, 1·07-1·10) and HIV viral load monitoring (1·13, 1·12-1·15), were less likely to report missing ART doses (0·54, 0·49-0·61), interrupt ART (0·34, 0·26-0·44), or be lost to follow-up (0·56, 0·49-0·65) compared to WSM. Men who inject drugs were almost twice as likely as women who inject drugs to die (aHR 1·72, 95%CI 1·03-2·85), experience disease progression to AIDS (2·05, 1·18-3·57), virological failure (aIRR 1·81, 95%CI 1·19-2·76), report ART side effects (1·78, 1·43-2·22), and interruptions in ART (2·29, 1·50-3·50).

INTERPRETATION

Our findings highlight the importance of identifying potentially at-risk MSW and promoting HIV education and testing among them. Particular attention is warranted among men who inject drugs to improve timely HIV diagnosis, drug interaction management, and retention in treatment. Additional research from rural settings is needed to assess the long-term treatment outcomes and adherence in MSM with HIV.

The factors associated with natural disease progression from HIV to AIDS in the absence of ART, a propensity score matching analysis

This study aimed at comparing the factors associated with the natural progression between typical progressors (TPs) and rapid progressors (RPs) in HIV-infected individuals. A retrospective study was conducted on 2095 eligible HIV-infected individuals from 1995 to 2016 in a high-risk area of Henan Province, China. Propensity score matching was used to balance covariates, and the conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the factors of natural disease progression among HIV infectors. A total of 379 pairs of RPs and TPs were matched. The standardised difference values of all covariates were less than 10%. HIV-infected individuals transmitted through sexual transmission (odds ratio (OR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.85) were more likely to progress to AIDS compared with those infected through contaminated blood. Older age at diagnosis of HIV-infected individuals (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.89) exhibited a faster progression to AIDS. HIV-infected individuals identified through a unique survey (OR 7.01, 95% CI 2.99-16.44) were less likely to progress to AIDS compared with those identified through medical institutions. HIV-infected individuals who had higher baseline CD4+T cell counts (OR 3.37, 95% CI 2.59-4.38) had a slower progression to AIDS. These findings provide evidence for natural disease progression from HIV to AIDS between TPs and RPs.

Survival after long-term ART exposure: findings from an Asian patient population retained in care beyond 5 years on ART

BACKGROUND

This study investigated survival in people living with HIV being followed-up from 5 and 10 years after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in a multi-country Asian cohort.

METHODS

We included patients in follow-up >5 years after ART initiation. Factors associated with mortality beyond 5 and 10 years on ART were analysed using competing risk regression with time-updated variables.

RESULTS

Of 13,495 patients retained after 5 years on ART, 279 subsequently died (0.56/100 person-years). Increased mortality was associated with age >50 years (sub-hazard ratio [sHR] 2.24, 95% CI 1.58, 3.15, compared with ≤40 years), HIV exposure through injecting drug use (sHR 2.17, 95% CI 1.32, 3.56), HIV viral load ≥1,000 copies/ml: sHR 1.52, 95% CI 1.05, 2.21, compared with <400), regimen (second-line regimen: sHR 2.11, 95% CI 1.52, 2.94, and third-line regimen: sHR 2.82, 95% CI 2.00, 3.98, compared with first-line regimen), HBV coinfection (sHR 2.23, 95% CI 1.49, 3.33), fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl (sHR 1.98, 95% CI 1.22, 3.21, compared with <100 mg/dl) and estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m² (sHR 2.57, 95% CI 1.56, 4.22). Decreased mortality was associated with transmission through male-to-male sexual contact (sHR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22, 0.88, compared with heterosexual transmission) and higher CD4⁺ T-cell count (200-349 cells/µl: sHR 0.27, 95% CI 0.20, 0.38, 350-499 cells/µl: sHR 0.10, 95% CI 0.07, 0.16 and ≥500 cells/µl: sHR 0.09, 95% CI 0.06, 0.13, compared with <200 cells/µl). Results after 10 years were similar, but most associations were weaker due to limited power.

CONCLUSIONS

Next to preventing ART failure, HIV programmes should carefully monitor and treat comorbidities, including hepatitis, kidney disease and diabetes, to optimize survival after long-term ART exposure.

Survival Time and Prognostic Factors of Mortality among Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in North-East Peninsular Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Death resulting from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide concern. This study is aimed at determining the overall median survival time, and the prognostic factors of mortality among AIDS-infected patients in North-East Peninsular Malaysia.

METHODS

In 2018, a retrospective cohort study stretching from January to April was conducted. This study involved a review of data obtained from the National AIDS Registry. A total of 1,073 AIDS cases diagnosed from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 were selected, and follow-up procedures were conducted until 31 March 2015 (a 3-month follow-up). The Kaplan-Meier plot and Cox's proportional hazard regression were used for data analyses.

RESULTS

564 (52.5%) patients died due to AIDS, while the remaining 509 (47.4%) were censored. The overall median survival time was 11 months. The probability of survival in 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year and 5-year periods were 49.1%, 47.8%, 47.3%, 47.0% and 46.7%, respectively. Multiple Cox regression revealed that the significant prognostic factors were age 30-49 years [adjusted hazard ratio (Adj. HR) 1.57; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.16; P = 0.006], male (Adj. HR 1.39; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.79; P = 0.012), unemployed (Adj. HR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.75; P = 0.003) and HIV-TB co-infection (Adj. HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.31; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The overall median survival time among AIDS patients in North-East Peninsular Malaysia was revealed to be short, in comparison to the other studies. The chances for survival can be improved with more emphasis on early detection (to ensure early treatment) and social support, particularly for HIV-TB co-infected patients, as well as for younger and unemployed patients.

LGBT Older Adults at a Crossroads in Mainland China: The Intersections of Stigma, Cultural Values, and Structural Changes Within a Shifting Context

In this article, we explore the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults in mainland China, with an emphasis on the shifting nature of the cultural context. Based on a culturally informed perspective, the intersection of LGBT stigma with cultural values (familial responsibility, filial piety, and loss of face) and larger structural changes (the aftermath of the one-child policy, economic reforms and globalization, LGBT human rights, and HIV policies) are creating dramatic shifts in Chinese society and impacting the lives of LGBT older adults. The increasing prevalence of HIV among gay and bisexual older men, although rarely acknowledged, is also contributing to challenges facing LGBT older adults and their families. These changes render LGBT older adults and those living with HIV and their caregivers at risk of economic insecurity. Resilience and resistance of LGBT older adults in China must be considered in both practice and policy to strengthen LGBT human rights globally.

Survival and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS: A 30-year national survey in Iran

Background:

The survival in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients based on data from Iran National HIV/AIDS Case Registry System has not been evaluated. This study assessed the survival rates and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran.

Materials and Methods:

The population in this observational study included 32168 patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS registered in Iran disease registry system between 1986 and 31 December 2015. Data until June 2016 (the cutoff date of our last data linkage) were investigated to estimate survival and related factors following HIV diagnosis.

Results:

Of registered patients, 17.7% were diagnosed at AIDS stage. By June 2016, 27.2% of study population progressed to AIDS, and 8081 (25.1%) of patients died. The survival rate was 88%, 85%, 77%, and 67% for 1, 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Cumulative proportion surviving was significantly lower in males than in females (P = 0.0001). A higher rate of survival was seen in female patients, who diagnosed after 2010, infected in sexual route, and had CD4 cell count more than 500, nonconfected patients with tuberculosis (TB), and those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART). Based on multivariate model, the mortality risk in female patients, those with CD4 cell count more than 500, patients who received ART, and those with TB and injection drug uses (IDUs) was higher.

Conclusion:

The survival in studied patients increased in recent time periods, and ART reduced AIDS-related mortality in these patients. The survival can be increased by focus on improvements in patient care among male patients, IDUs, and patients with TB coinfection.

Risk factors for HIV infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in an ethnic minority region of China

We aimed to analyze factors related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture from 2011 to 2016, and to investigate the relationship among the HIV-related risk factors.Three sites (Butuo, Zhaojue, and Ganluo counties) with a Yi population were selected from 2011 to 2016 in Liangshan prefecture. We used questionnaires to investigate demographic and behavioral characteristics and performed HIV testing. Logistic regression analysis and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were used to analyze the data.A total of 6311 qualified rural unmarried Yi adolescents were involved in this study, with an HIV infection rate of 4.18% (264/6311). Logistic regression analysis indicated that males (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.17-2.08), illiteracy (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.79-4.08), primary school education or below (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12-2.36), history of out-migrating for work (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.18-2.13), and injecting drug user (IDU) (OR = 6.42, 95% CI = 3.06-13.46) contributed to the risk of HIV infection. MCA revealed a strong interrelationship between the following risk factors and HIV infection: aged 23 to 25 years, IDU, history of out-migrating for work, and ever having sexual behaviors.HIV infection among 15 to 25-year-old rural unmarried Yi adolescents in Liangshan is a serious issue. MCA and logistic regression analysis can be used to assess the relationship between risk factors for HIV infection.

Trends in the incidence of AIDS and epidemiological features in Tianjin, China from 2005 to 2016

The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiological trends among patients with AIDS in Tianjin, China. A long-term surveillance study was conducted from 2005 to 2016 in Tianjin, China. All patients with AIDS registered in Tianjin from 2005 to 2016 were recruited to this study. Demographic information and clinical features were recorded. A total of 3062 patients with AIDS who were treated with antiretroviral therapy were included in this study. Among AIDS patients, men were more likely to be younger than women (age, 37.84 years vs. 43.27 years; P < 0.001). The incidence of AIDS increased by 39.6% annually over the past 12 years overall. There was the greatest increase (by 44.7%) for homosexual route. Moreover, the proportion of patients aged < 30 years increased considerably over the 12-year study period, while there was a decrease in the proportion of patients aged ≥ 35 years. The frequency of homosexual transmission increased by 86% from before 2011 to 2016, but the frequency of heterosexual transmission decreased by 49%. The frequency of transmission through intravenous drug use decreased in men and patients aged 25–29 years. For those infected through homosexual transmission, there was a significant increase in the numbers of patients aged 20–24 years and 25–29 years. It is important for developing countries to effectively prevent and control the transmission of HIV/AIDS; in particular, it is crucial to promote disease education and sexual protection among young men.

Prognosis of HIV Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy According to CD4 Counts: A Long-term Follow-up study in Yunnan, China

We aim to evaluate the overall survival and associated risk factors for HIV-infected Chinese patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). 2517 patients receiving ART between 2006 and 2016 were prospectively enrolled in Yunnan province. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed. 216/2517 patients died during a median 17.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 6.8–33.2) months of follow-up. 82/216 occurred within 6 months of starting ART. Adjusted hazard ratios were10.69 (95%CI 2.38–48.02, p = 0.002) for old age, 1.94 (95%CI 1.40–2.69, p < 0.0001) for advanced WHO stage, and 0.42 (95%CI 0.27–0.63, p < 0.0001) for heterosexual transmission compared to injecting drug users. Surprisingly, adjusted hazard ratios comparing low CD4 counts group (<50 cells/µl) with high CD4 counts group (≥500 cells/µl) within six months after starting ART was 20.17 (95%CI 4.62–87.95, p < 0.0001) and it declined to 3.57 (95%CI 1.10–11.58, p = 0.034) afterwards. Age, WHO stage, transmission route are significantly independent risk factors for ART treated HIV patients. Importantly, baseline CD4 counts is strongly inversely associated with survival in the first six months; whereas it becomes a weak prognostic factor after six months of starting ART.