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Burke RM, Rickman HM, Pinto C, Ehrenkranz P, Choko A, Ford N. Reasons for disengagement from antiretroviral care in the era of "Treat All" in low- or middle-income countries: a systematic review. J Int AIDS Soc 2024; 27:e26230. [PMID: 38494657 PMCID: PMC10945039 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Disengagement from antiretroviral therapy (ART) care is an important reason why people living with HIV do not achieve viral load suppression become unwell. METHODS We searched two databases and conference abstracts from January 2015 to December 2022 for studies which reported reasons for disengagement from ART care. We included quantitative (mainly surveys) and qualitative (in-depth interviews or focus groups) studies conducted after "treat all" or "Option B+" policy adoption. We used an inductive approach to categorize reasons: we report how often reasons were reported in studies and developed a conceptual framework for reasons. RESULTS We identified 21 studies which reported reasons for disengaging from ART care in the "Treat All" era, mostly in African countries: six studies in the general population of persons living with HIV, nine in pregnant or postpartum women and six in selected populations (one each in people who use drugs, isolated indigenous communities, men, women, adolescents and men who have sex with men). Reasons reported were: side effects or other antiretroviral tablet issues (15 studies); lack of perceived benefit of ART (13 studies); psychological, mental health or drug use (13 studies); concerns about stigma or confidentiality (14 studies); lack of social or family support (12 studies); socio-economic reasons (16 studies); health facility-related reasons (11 studies); and acute proximal events such as unexpected mobility (12 studies). The most common reasons for disengagement were unexpected events, socio-economic reasons, ART side effects or lack of perceived benefit of ART. Conceptually, studies described underlying vulnerability factors (individual, interpersonal, structural and healthcare) but that often unexpected proximal events (e.g. unanticipated mobility) acted as the trigger for disengagement to occur. DISCUSSION People disengage from ART care for individual, interpersonal, structural and healthcare reasons, and these reasons overlap and interact with each other. While HIV programmes cannot predict and address all events that may lead to disengagement, an approach that recognizes that such shocks will happen could help. CONCLUSIONS Health services should focus on ways to encourage clients to engage with care by making ART services welcoming, person-centred and more flexible alongside offering adherence interventions, such as counselling and peer support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Burke
- Clinical Research DepartmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
| | - Hannah M. Rickman
- Clinical Research DepartmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
| | - Clarice Pinto
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganisationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Peter Ehrenkranz
- Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Augustine Choko
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
- International Public Health DepartmentLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Nathan Ford
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganisationGenevaSwitzerland
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Kerschberger B, Vambe D, Schomaker M, Mabhena E, Daka M, Dlamini T, Ngwenya S, Mamba B, Nxumalo B, Sibanda J, Dube S, Dlamini LM, Mukooza E, Ellman T, Ciglenecki I. Sustained high fatality during TB therapy amid rapid decline in TB mortality at population level: A retrospective cohort and ecological analysis from Shiselweni, Eswatini. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:192-205. [PMID: 38100203 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite declining TB notifications in Southern Africa, TB-related deaths remain high. We describe patient- and population-level trends in TB-related deaths in Eswatini over a period of 11 years. METHODS Patient-level (retrospective cohort, from 2009 to 2019) and population-level (ecological analysis, 2009-2017) predictors and rates of TB-related deaths were analysed in HIV-negative and HIV-coinfected first-line TB treatment cases and the population of the Shiselweni region. Patient-level TB treatment data, and population and HIV prevalence estimates were combined to obtain stratified annual mortality rates. Multivariable Poisson regressions models were fitted to identify patient-level and population-level predictors of deaths. RESULTS Of 11,883 TB treatment cases, 1302 (11.0%) patients died during treatment: 210/2798 (7.5%) HIV-negative patients, 984/8443 (11.7%) people living with HIV (PLHIV), and 108/642 (16.8%) patients with unknown HIV-status. The treatment case fatality ratio remained above 10% in most years. At patient-level, fatality risk was higher in PLHIV (aRR 1.74, 1.51-2.02), and for older age and extra-pulmonary TB irrespective of HIV-status. For PLHIV, fatality risk was higher for TB retreatment cases (aRR 1.38, 1.18-1.61) and patients without antiretroviral therapy (aRR 1.70, 1.47-1.97). It decreases with increasing higher CD4 strata and the programmatic availability of TB-LAM testing (aRR 0.65, 0.35-0.90). At population-level, mortality rates decreased 6.4-fold (-147/100,000 population) between 2009 (174/100,000) and 2017 (27/100,000), coinciding with a decline in TB treatment cases (2785 in 2009 to 497 in 2017). Although the absolute decline in mortality rates was most pronounced in PLHIV (-826/100,000 vs. HIV-negative: -23/100,000), the relative population-level mortality risk remained higher in PLHIV (aRR 4.68, 3.25-6.72) compared to the HIV-negative population. CONCLUSIONS TB-related mortality rapidly decreased at population-level and most pronounced in PLHIV. However, case fatality among TB treatment cases remained high. Further strategies to reduce active TB disease and introduce improved TB therapies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kerschberger
- Médecins sans Frontières, Mbabane, Eswatini
- Médecins sans Frontières/Ärzte ohne Grenzen, Vienna Evaluation Unit, Vienna, Austria
| | - Debrah Vambe
- National TB Control Programme (NTCP), Manzini, Eswatini
| | - Michael Schomaker
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Bheki Mamba
- National TB Control Programme (NTCP), Manzini, Eswatini
| | | | - Joyce Sibanda
- National TB Control Programme (NTCP), Manzini, Eswatini
| | - Sisi Dube
- National TB Control Programme (NTCP), Manzini, Eswatini
| | | | | | - Tom Ellman
- Médecins sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa
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Mayasi Ngongo N, Kamangu Ntambwe E, Situakibanza Nani-Tuma H, Mbula Mambimbi M, Mandina Ndona M, Longokolo Mashi M, Bepouka Izizag B, Lukiana T, Odio Ossam J, Mangala Sonzi D, Maes N, Moutschen M, El Moussaoui M, Darcis G. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Viral Load Monitoring and Rate of Virologic Suppression Among Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2013-2020. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad242. [PMID: 37363052 PMCID: PMC10287095 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) expansion and viral load as a treatment monitoring approach have increased the demand for viral load testing. Many hurdles affect the coverage, quality, and use of viral load results. Estimates of viral load monitoring and viral suppression rates are needed to assess the performance of ART programs and improve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management outcomes. Methods People with HIV (PWH) viral load monitoring data were routinely collected in 84 health facilities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between 2013 and 2020. The number of PWH under ART, the number of participants with at least 1 viral load test result, the rate of viral suppression (defined as ≤1000 HIV ribonucleic acid copies per mL), and the mean turnaround time from sample collection to release of viral load test results were collected together with clinical data. Results A total of 14 057 PWH were included in the analysis. People with HIV were mainly enrolled after the "test and treat" implementation. The patients were followed for a median period of 27 months. The proportion of PWH with at least 1 available viral load largely increased in recent years. The delay from sample collection to release of viral load test results decreased overtime, from 35 days in 2018 to 16 days in 2020. Pregnancy and advanced HIV disease were associated with a lower chance of viral suppression. Conclusions There has been considerable success in increasing viral load access for all PWH under therapy in DRC. Nevertheless, viral load testing should be intensified with a particular effort to be made in groups at higher risk of viral failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Mayasi Ngongo
- Correspondence: Gilles Darcis, MD, PhD, Avenue de l’hôpital 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium (); Nadine Mayasi Ngongo, MD, PhD, Avenue de l’hôpital 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium (nadiamayas02@gmail)
| | - Erick Kamangu Ntambwe
- Department of Molecular Biology of Basic Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Hippolyte Situakibanza Nani-Tuma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Marcel Mbula Mambimbi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Madone Mandina Ndona
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Murielle Longokolo Mashi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Ben Bepouka Izizag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Tuna Lukiana
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jérôme Odio Ossam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Donatien Mangala Sonzi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Nathalie Maes
- Biostatistics and Research Method Center (B-STAT), University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Michel Moutschen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- AIDS Reference Laboratory, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Majdouline El Moussaoui
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Correspondence: Gilles Darcis, MD, PhD, Avenue de l’hôpital 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium (); Nadine Mayasi Ngongo, MD, PhD, Avenue de l’hôpital 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium (nadiamayas02@gmail)
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Attrition from Care Among Men Initiating ART in Male-Only Clinics Compared with Men in General Primary Healthcare Clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A Matched Propensity Score Analysis. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:358-369. [PMID: 35908271 PMCID: PMC9852215 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03772-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Men have higher rates of attrition from antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs than women. In Khayelitsha, a high HIV prevalence area in South Africa, two public sector primary healthcare clinics offer services, including HIV testing and treatment, exclusively to men. We compared attrition from ART care among men initiating ART at these clinics with male attrition in six general primary healthcare clinics in Khayelitsha. We described baseline characteristics of patients initiating ART at the male and general clinics from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2018. We used exposure propensity scores (generated based on baseline health and age) to match male clinic patients 1:1 to males at other clinics. The association between attrition (death or loss to follow-up, defined as no visits for nine months) and clinic type was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Follow-up time began at ART initiation and ended at attrition, clinic transfer, or dataset closure. Before matching, patients from male clinics (n = 784) were younger than males from general clinics (n = 2726), median age: 31.2 vs 35.5 years. Those initiating at male clinics had higher median CD4 counts at ART initiation [Male Clinic 1: 329 (IQR 210-431), Male Clinic 2: 364 (IQR 260-536), general clinics 258 (IQR 145-398), cells/mm3]. In the matched analysis (1451 person-years, 1568 patients) patients initiating ART at male clinics had lower attrition (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.60-0.85). In separate analyses for each of the two male clinics, only the more established male clinic showed a protective effect. Male-only clinics reached younger, healthier men, and had lower ART attrition than general services. These findings support clinic-specific adaptations to create more male-friendly environments.
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Okonkwo NE, Blum A, Viswasam N, Hahn E, Ryan S, Turpin G, Lyons CE, Baral S, Hansoti B. A Systematic Review of Linkage-to-Care and Antiretroviral Initiation Implementation Strategies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Across Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:2123-2134. [PMID: 35088176 PMCID: PMC9422958 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Linkage to care (LTC) and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) are key components in the longitudinal care cascade for people living with HIV. Many strategies to optimize these stages of HIV care have been implemented, though there is a paucity of analyses comparing the outcomes of these efforts in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a systematic review of studies assessing interventions along all stages of the HIV care continuum published between 2008 and 2020. A comprehensive search strategy reviewed five electronic databases to capture studies assessing HIV testing, LTC, ART initiation, ART adherence, and viral suppression. Of the 388 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 78 described interventions for improving LTC/ART initiation. Efforts focused on empowering patients through integrative approaches generally yielded more substantive results compared to provider-initiated non-adaptive LTC interventions or cash incentives. Specifically, tailoring care and incorporating ART initiation into existing infrastructures, such as maternal clinics, had a high impact across settings. Moreover, strategies such as home-based HIV counseling and testing (HBHCT) appear to be most effective when implemented in tandem with other approaches including motivational counseling and point-of-care CD4 testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nneoma E Okonkwo
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Blum
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nikita Viswasam
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Hahn
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sofia Ryan
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gnilane Turpin
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carrie E Lyons
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stefan Baral
- Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bhakti Hansoti
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Suite 200, 5801 Smith Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21209, USA.
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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MacKellar D, Hlophe T, Ujamaa D, Pals S, Dlamini M, Dube L, Suraratdecha C, Williams D, Byrd J, Tobias J, Mndzebele P, Behel S, Pathmanathan I, Mazibuko S, Tilahun E, Ryan C. Antiretroviral therapy initiation and retention among clients who received peer-delivered linkage case management and standard linkage services, Eswatini, 2016-2020: retrospective comparative cohort study. Arch Public Health 2022; 80:74. [PMID: 35260189 PMCID: PMC8905856 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-00810-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons living with HIV infection (PLHIV) who are diagnosed in community settings in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to barriers to care that prevent or delay many from obtaining antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess if a package of peer-delivered linkage case management and treatment navigation services (CommLink) was more effective than peer-delivered counseling, referral, and telephone follow-up (standard linkage services, SLS) in initiating and retaining PLHIV on ART after diagnosis in community settings in Eswatini. HIV-test records of 773 CommLink and 769 SLS clients aged ≥ 15 years diagnosed between March 2016 and March 2018, matched by urban and rural settings of diagnosis, were selected for the study. CommLink counselors recorded resolved and unresolved barriers to care (e.g., perceived wellbeing, fear of partner response, stigmatization) during a median of 52 days (interquartile range: 35-69) of case management. RESULTS Twice as many CommLink than SLS clients initiated ART by 90 days of diagnosis overall (88.4% vs. 37.9%, adjusted relative risk (aRR): 2.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.97, 2.77) and during test and treat when all PLHIV were eligible for ART (96.2% vs. 37.1%, aRR: 2.59, 95% CI: 2.20, 3.04). By 18 months of diagnosis, 54% more CommLink than SLS clients were initiated and retained on ART (76.3% vs. 49.5%, aRR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.79). Peer counselors helped resolve 896 (65%) of 1372 identified barriers of CommLink clients. Compared with clients with ≥ 3 unresolved barriers to care, 42% (aRR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.68) more clients with 1-2 unresolved barriers, 44% (aRR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.66) more clients with all barriers resolved, and 54% (aRR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.81) more clients who had no identified barriers were initiated and retained on ART by 18 months of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS To improve early ART initiation and retention among PLHIV diagnosed in community settings, HIV prevention programs should consider providing a package of peer-delivered linkage case management and treatment navigation services. Clients with multiple unresolved barriers to care measured as part of that package should be triaged for differentiated linkage and retention services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan MacKellar
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | | | | | - Sherri Pals
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Lenhle Dube
- Eswatini Ministry of Health, Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Chutima Suraratdecha
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daniel Williams
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - James Tobias
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Behel
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ishani Pathmanathan
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Caroline Ryan
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mbabane, Eswatini
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Mayasi N, Situakibanza H, Mbula M, Longokolo M, Maes N, Bepouka B, Ossam JO, Moutschen M, Darcis G. Retention in care and predictors of attrition among HIV-infected patients who started antiretroviral therapy in Kinshasa, DRC, before and after the implementation of the 'treat-all' strategy. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000259. [PMID: 36962315 PMCID: PMC10022330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The retention of patients in care is a key pillar of the continuum of HIV care. It has been suggested that the implementation of a "treat-all" strategy may favor attrition (death or lost to follow-up, as opposed to retention), specifically in the subgroup of asymptomatic people living with HIV (PLWH) with high CD4 counts. Attrition in HIV care could mitigate the success of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings. We performed a retrospective study of PLWH at least 15 years old initiating ART in 85 HIV care centers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), between 2010 and 2019, with the objective of measuring attrition and to define factors associated with it. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics recorded at ART initiation included sex, age, weight, height, WHO HIV stage, pregnancy, baseline CD4 cell count, start date of ART, and baseline and last ART regimen. Attrition was defined as death or loss to follow-up (LTFU). LTFU was defined as "not presenting to an HIV care center for at least 180 days after the date of a last missed visit, without a notification of death or transfer". Kaplan-Meier curves were used to present attrition data, and mixed effects Cox regression models determined factors associated with attrition. The results compared were before and after the implementation of the "treat-all" strategy. A total of 15,762 PLWH were included in the study. Overall, retention in HIV care was 83% at twelve months and 77% after two years of follow-up. The risk of attrition increased with advanced HIV disease and the size of the HIV care center. Time to ART initiation greater than seven days after diagnosis and Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis was associated with a reduced risk of attrition. The implementation of the "treat-all" strategy modified the clinical characteristics of PLWH toward higher CD4 cell counts and a greater proportion of patients at WHO stages I and II at treatment initiation. Initiation of ART after the implementation of the 'treat all" strategy was associated with higher attrition (p<0.0001) and higher LTFU (p<0.0001). Attrition has remained high in recent years. The implementation of the "treat-all" strategy was associated with higher attrition and LTFU in our study. Interventions to improve early and ongoing commitment to care are needed, with specific attention to high-risk groups to improve ART coverage and limit HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Mayasi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Hippolyte Situakibanza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Marcel Mbula
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Murielle Longokolo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Nathalie Maes
- Biostatistics and Medico-Economic Information Department, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Ben Bepouka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Jérôme Odio Ossam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinics of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]
| | - Michel Moutschen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
- AIDS Reference Laboratory, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
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Kerschberger B, Boulle A, Kuwengwa R, Ciglenecki I, Schomaker M. The Impact of Same-Day Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Under the World Health Organization Treat-All Policy. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:1519-1532. [PMID: 33576383 PMCID: PMC8327202 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with the option to start treatment on the day of diagnosis (same-day ART). However, the effect of same-day ART remains unknown in realistic public sector settings. We established a cohort of ≥16-year-old patients who initiated first-line ART under a treat-all policy in Nhlangano (Eswatini) during 2014-2016, either on the day of HIV care enrollment (same-day ART) or 1-14 days thereafter (early ART). Directed acyclic graphs, flexible parametric survival analysis, and targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) were used to estimate the effect of same-day-ART initiation on a composite unfavorable treatment outcome (loss to follow-up, death, viral failure, treatment switch). Of 1,328 patients, 839 (63.2%) initiated same-day ART. The adjusted hazard ratio of the unfavorable outcome was higher, 1.48 (95% confidence interval: 1.16, 1.89), for same-day ART compared with early ART. TMLE suggested that after 1 year, 28.9% of patients would experience the unfavorable outcome under same-day ART compared with 21.2% under early ART (difference: 7.7%; 1.3%-14.1%). This estimate was driven by loss to follow-up and varied over time, with a higher hazard during the first year after HIV care enrollment and a similar hazard thereafter. We found an increased risk with same-day ART. A limitation was that possible silent transfers that were not captured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kerschberger
- Correspondence to Dr. Bernhard Kerschberger, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mantsholo Road 325, Mbabane, Eswatini (e-mail: )
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Dejen D, Jara D, Yeshanew F, Fentaw Z, Mengie Feleke T, Girmaw F, Wagaye B. Attrition and Its Predictors Among Adults Receiving First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Woldia Town Public Health Facilities, Northeast Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. HIV AIDS-RESEARCH AND PALLIATIVE CARE 2021; 13:445-454. [PMID: 33907472 PMCID: PMC8068483 DOI: 10.2147/hiv.s304657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Introduction There is an expansion and advancement of antiretroviral therapy. However, attrition of patients from HIV care is one of the major drivers of poor performance of HIV/AIDS programs, which leads to drug resistance, morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to assess the incidence of attrition and its predictors among adults receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy. Methods An institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 634 adults receiving antiretroviral therapy, and study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were cleaned and entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA 14.1 for further analysis. The predictors of attrition were identified using bivariable and multivariable Cox Proportional hazard models; then, variables at a p-value of less than 0.25 and 0.05 were included in the multivariable analysis and statistically significant, respectively. Results The total time observed was found to be 1807.08 person-years of observation with a median follow-up time of 2.67 years (IQR 1.25−4.67). The incidence rate of attrition was 8.36 (95% CI: 7.12−9.80) per 100 person-years. Significant predictors of attrition were being young age [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) =2.0, 95% CI, (1.11−3.58)], nearest calendar year of ART initiation [AHR =2.32, 95% CI, (1.08–5.01)], bedridden functional status [AHR=3.25, 95% CI, (1.33−7.96)], WHO stage III [AHR=3.57, 95% CI, (1.58−8.06)] and stage IV [AHR=5.46, 95% CI, (1.97−15.13)], viral load result of ≤1000 [AHR=0.11, 95% CI, (0.06−0.23)], disclosure status [AHR=2.03, 95% CI, (1.22−3.37)] and adherence level of poor [AHR=3.19, 95 CI, (1.67−6.09)]. Conclusion The result of this study showed that the incidence of attrition among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy was high. However, as a standard, every client who started antiretroviral therapy should be retained. Positive predictors of attrition were young age (15–24), recent year of ART initiation, baseline functional status, advanced WHO stage III and IV, no disclosure status, fair/poor adherence whereas, viral load result of ≤1000 copies/mL had a preventive effect on attrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demeke Dejen
- Care and Treatment, Amhara Regional Health Bureau CDC Project Cluster Health Facilities HIV Case Detection Linkage, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Dube Jara
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Fanos Yeshanew
- Department of Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Zinabu Fentaw
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Tesfa Mengie Feleke
- Amhara Regional Health Bureau CDC Project Zonal Monitoring and Evaluation, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Fentaw Girmaw
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Birhanu Wagaye
- Department of Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
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Etoori D, Wringe A, Kabudula CW, Renju J, Rice B, Gomez-Olive FX, Reniers G. Misreporting of Patient Outcomes in the South African National HIV Treatment Database: Consequences for Programme Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation. Front Public Health 2020; 8:100. [PMID: 32318534 PMCID: PMC7154050 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Monitoring progress toward global treatment targets using HIV programme data in sub-Saharan Africa has proved challenging. Constraints in routine data collection and reporting can lead to biased estimates of treatment outcomes. In 2010, South Africa introduced an electronic patient monitoring system for HIV patient visits, TIER.Net. We compare treatment status and outcomes recorded in TIER.Net to outcomes ascertained through detailed record review and tracing in order to assess discrepancies and biases in retention and mortality rates. Methods: The Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in north-eastern South Africa is served by eight public primary healthcare facilities. Since 2014, HIV patient visits are logged electronically at these clinics, with patient records individually linked to their HDSS record. These data were used to generate a list of patients >90 days late for their last scheduled clinic visit and deemed lost to follow-up (LTFU). Patient outcomes were ascertained through a review of the TIER.Net database, physical patient files, registers kept by two non-government organizations that assist with patient tracing, cross-referencing with the HDSS records and supplementary physical tracing. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patient outcomes reported in TIER.Net to their outcome ascertained in the study. Results: Of 1,074 patients that were eligible for this analysis, TIER.Net classified 533 (49.6%) as LTFU, 80 (7.4%) as deceased, and 186 (17.3%) as transferred out. TIER.Net misclassified 36% of patient outcomes, overestimating LTFU and underestimating mortality and transfers out. TIER.Net missed 40% of deaths and 43% of transfers out. Patients categorized as LTFU in TIER.Net were more likely to be misclassified than patients classified as deceased or transferred out. Discussion: Misclassification of patient outcomes in TIER.Net has consequences for programme forecasting, monitoring and evaluation. Undocumented transfers accounted for the majority of misclassification, suggesting that the transfer process between clinics should be improved for more accurate reporting of patient outcomes. Processes that lead to correct classification of patient status including patient tracing should be strengthened. Clinics could cross-check all available data sources before classifying patients as LTFU. Programme evaluators and modelers could consider using correction factors to improve estimates of outcomes from TIER.Net.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Etoori
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Wringe
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chodziwadziwa Whiteson Kabudula
- MRC/WITS Rural Public Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jenny Renju
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Brian Rice
- MeSH Consortium, Department of Public Health Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - F. Xavier Gomez-Olive
- MRC/WITS Rural Public Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Georges Reniers
- Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- MRC/WITS Rural Public Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Kerschberger B, Schomaker M, Jobanputra K, Kabore SM, Teck R, Mabhena E, Mthethwa‐Hleza S, Rusch B, Ciglenecki I, Boulle A. HIV programmatic outcomes following implementation of the 'Treat-All' policy in a public sector setting in Eswatini: a prospective cohort study. J Int AIDS Soc 2020; 23:e25458. [PMID: 32128964 PMCID: PMC7054447 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Treat-All policy - antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation irrespective of CD4 cell criteria - increases access to treatment. Many ART programmes, however, reported increasing attrition and viral failure during treatment expansion, questioning the programmatic feasibility of Treat-All in resource-limited settings. We aimed to describe and compare programmatic outcomes between Treat-All and standard of care (SOC) in the public sectors of Eswatini. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study of ≥16-year-old HIV-positive patients initiated on first-line ART under Treat-All and SOC in 18 health facilities of the Shiselweni region, from October 2014 to March 2016. SOC followed the CD4 350 and 500 cells/mm3 treatment eligibility thresholds. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to describe crude programmatic outcomes. Multivariate flexible parametric survival models were built to assess associations of time from ART initiation with the composite unfavourable outcome of all-cause attrition and viral failure. RESULTS Of the 3170 patients, 1888 (59.6%) initiated ART under Treat-All at a median CD4 cell count of 329 (IQR 168 to 488) cells/mm3 compared with 292 (IQR 161 to 430) (p < 0.001) under SOC. Although crude programme retention at 36 months tended to be lower under Treat-All (71%) than SOC (75%) (p = 0.002), it was similar in covariate-adjusted analysis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.06, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.23). The hazard of viral suppression was higher for Treat-All (aHR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.23), while the hazard of viral failure was comparable (Treat-All: aHR 0.89, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.49). Among patients with advanced HIV disease (n = 1080), those under Treat-All (aHR 1.13, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.44) had a similar risk of an composite unfavourable outcome to SOC. Factors increasing the risk of the composite unfavourable outcome under both interventions were aged 16 to 24 years, being unmarried, anaemia, ART initiation on the same day as HIV care enrolment and CD4 ≤ 100 cells/mm3 . Under Treat-All only, the risk of the unfavourable outcome was higher for pregnant women, WHO III/IV clinical stage and elevated creatinine. CONCLUSIONS Compared to SOC, Treat-All resulted in comparable retention, improved viral suppression and comparable composite outcomes of retention without viral failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kerschberger
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Michael Schomaker
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology AssessmentUMIT ‐ University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and TechnologyHall in TirolAustria
| | | | - Serge M Kabore
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
| | - Roger Teck
- The Manson UnitMédecins Sans FrontièresLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Edwin Mabhena
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
| | | | - Barbara Rusch
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Iza Ciglenecki
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Andrew Boulle
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Lilian RR, Rees K, McIntyre JA, Struthers HE, Peters RPH. Same-day antiretroviral therapy initiation for HIV-infected adults in South Africa: Analysis of routine data. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227572. [PMID: 31935240 PMCID: PMC6959580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Same-day initiation (SDI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been recommended to improve ART programme outcomes in South Africa since August 2017. This study assessed implementation of SDI over time in two South African districts, describing the characteristics of same-day initiators and evaluating the impact of SDI on retention in ART care. Routine data were analysed for HIV-infected adults who were newly initiating ART in Johannesburg or Mopani Districts between October 2017 and June 2018. Characteristics of same-day ART initiators were compared to later initiators, and losses to follow-up (LTFU) to six months were assessed using Kaplan Meier survival analysis and multivariate logistic regression. The dataset comprised 32 290 records (29 964 from Johannesburg and 2 326 from Mopani). The overall rate of SDI was 40.4% (n = 13 038), increasing from 30.3% in October 2017 to 54.2% in June 2018. Same-day ART initiators were younger, more likely to be female and presented with less advanced clinical disease than those initiating treatment at later times following diagnosis (p<0.001 for all). SDI was associated with disengagement from care: LTFU was 30.1% in the SDI group compared to 22.4%, 19.8% and 21.9% among clients initiating ART 1–7 days, 8–21 days and ≥22 days after HIV diagnosis, respectively (p<0.001). LTFU was significantly more likely among clients in Johannesburg versus Mopani (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.43, p<0.001) and among same-day versus later initiators (aOR = 1.45, p<0.001), while increasing age reduced LTFU (aOR = 0.97, p<0.001). In conclusion, SDI has increased over time as per national guidelines, but there is serious concern regarding the reduced rate of retention among same-day initiators. Nevertheless, SDI may result in a net programmatic benefit provided that interventions are implemented to support client readiness for treatment and ongoing engagement in ART care, particularly among younger adults in large ART programmes such as Johannesburg.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Rees
- Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - James A. McIntyre
- Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Helen E. Struthers
- Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Remco P. H. Peters
- Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Public Health & Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Kerschberger B, Jobanputra K, Schomaker M, Kabore SM, Teck R, Mabhena E, Lukhele N, Rusch B, Boulle A, Ciglenecki I. Feasibility of antiretroviral therapy initiation under the treat-all policy under routine conditions: a prospective cohort study from Eswatini. J Int AIDS Soc 2019; 22:e25401. [PMID: 31647613 PMCID: PMC6812490 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization recommends the Treat-All policy of immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, but questions persist about its feasibility in resource-poor settings. We assessed the feasibility of Treat-All compared with standard of care (SOC) under routine conditions. METHODS This prospective cohort study from southern Eswatini followed adults from HIV care enrolment to ART initiation. Between October 2014 and March 2016, Treat-All was offered in one health zone and SOC according to the CD4 350 and 500 cells/mm3 treatment eligibility thresholds in the neighbouring health zone, each of which comprised one secondary and eight primary care facilities. We used Kaplan-Meier estimates, multivariate flexible parametric survival models and standardized survival curves to compare ART initiation between the two interventions. RESULTS Of the 1726 (57.3%) patients enrolled under Treat-All and 1287 (42.7%) under SOC, cumulative three-month ART initiation was higher under Treat-All (91%) than SOC (74%; p < 0.001) with a median time to ART of 1 (IQR 0 to 14) and 10 (IQR 2 to 117) days respectively. Under Treat-All, ART initiation was higher in pregnant women (vs. non-pregnant women: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.70 to 2.26), those with secondary education (vs. no formal education: aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.95), and patients with an HIV-positive diagnosis before care enrolment (aHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.36). ART initiation was lower in patients attending secondary care facilities (aHR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.72) and for CD4 351 to 500 when compared with CD4 201 to 350 cells/mm3 (aHR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.00). ART initiation varied over time for TB cases, with lower hazard during the first two weeks after HIV care enrolment and higher hazards thereafter. Of patients with advanced HIV disease (n = 1085; 36.0%), crude 3-month ART initiation was similar in both interventions (91% to 92%) although Treat-All initiated patients more quickly during the first month after HIV care enrolment. CONCLUSIONS ART initiation was high under Treat-All and without evidence of de-prioritization of patients with advanced HIV disease. Additional studies are needed to understand the long-term impact of Treat-All on patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kerschberger
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | | | - Michael Schomaker
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and HealthTechnology AssessmentMedical Informatics and TechnologyUMIT – University for Health SciencesHall in TirolAustria
| | - Serge M Kabore
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
| | - Roger Teck
- The Manson UnitMédecins Sans FrontièresLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Edwin Mabhena
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
| | | | - Barbara Rusch
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Andrew Boulle
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Iza Ciglenecki
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
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Kerschberger B, Schomaker M, Telnov A, Vambe D, Kisyeri N, Sikhondze W, Pasipamire L, Ngwenya SM, Rusch B, Ciglenecki I, Boulle A. Decreased risk of HIV-associated TB during antiretroviral therapy expansion in rural Eswatini from 2009 to 2016: a cohort and population-based analysis. Trop Med Int Health 2019; 24:1114-1127. [PMID: 31310029 PMCID: PMC6852273 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper assesses patient- and population-level trends in TB notifications during rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy in Eswatini which has an extremely high incidence of both TB and HIV. METHODS Patient- and population-level predictors and rates of HIV-associated TB were examined in the Shiselweni region in Eswatini from 2009 to 2016. Annual population-level denominators obtained from projected census data and prevalence estimates obtained from population-based surveys were combined with individual-level TB treatment data. Patient- and population-level predictors of HIV-associated TB were assessed with multivariate logistic and multivariate negative binomial regression models. RESULTS Of 11 328 TB cases, 71.4% were HIV co-infected and 51.8% were women. TB notifications decreased fivefold between 2009 and 2016, from 1341 to 269 cases per 100 000 person-years. The decline was sixfold in PLHIV vs. threefold in the HIV-negative population. Main patient-level predictors of HIV-associated TB were recurrent TB treatment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-1.65), negative (aOR 1.31, 1.15-1.49) and missing (aOR 1.30, 1.11-1.53) bacteriological status and diagnosis at secondary healthcare level (aOR 1.18, 1.06-1.33). Compared with 2009, the probability of TB decreased for all years from 2011 (aOR 0.69, 0.58-0.83) to 2016 (aOR 0.54, 0.43-0.69). The most pronounced population-level predictor of TB was HIV-positive status (adjusted incidence risk ratio 19.47, 14.89-25.46). CONCLUSIONS This high HIV-TB prevalence setting experienced a rapid decline in TB notifications, most pronounced in PLHIV. Achievements in HIV-TB programming were likely contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kerschberger
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)MbabaneEswatini
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Michael Schomaker
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Public HealthMedical Decision Making and HealthTechnology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and TechnologyHall in TirolAustria
| | - Alex Telnov
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Debrah Vambe
- National TB Control ProgramMinistry of HealthManziniEswatini
| | - Nicholas Kisyeri
- Eswatini National AIDS ProgrammeMinistry of HealthMbabaneEswatini
| | | | | | | | - Barbara Rusch
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Iza Ciglenecki
- Médecins Sans Frontières (Operational Centre Geneva)GenevaSwitzerland
| | - Andrew Boulle
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Kerschberger B, Telnov A, Yano N, Cox H, Zabsonre I, Kabore SM, Vambe D, Ngwenya S, Rusch B, Tombo ML, Ciglenecki I. Successful expansion of community-based drug-resistant TB care in rural Eswatini - a retrospective cohort study. Trop Med Int Health 2019; 24:1243-1258. [PMID: 31390108 PMCID: PMC6851784 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Provision of drug‐resistant tuberculosis (DR‐TB) treatment is scarce in resource‐limited settings. We assessed the feasibility of ambulatory DR‐TB care for treatment expansion in rural Eswatini. Methods Retrospective patient‐level data were used to evaluate ambulatory DR‐TB treatment provision in rural Shiselweni (Eswatini), from 2008 to 2016. DR‐TB care was either clinic‐based led by nurses or community‐based at the patient's home with involvement of community treatment supporters for provision of treatment to patients with difficulties in accessing facilities. We describe programmatic outcomes and used multivariate flexible parametric survival models to assess time to adverse outcomes. Both care models were costed in supplementary analyses. Results Of 698 patients initiated on DR‐TB treatment, 57% were women and 84% were HIV‐positive. Treatment initiations increased from 27 in 2008 to 127 in 2011 and decreased thereafter to 51 in 2016. Proportionally, community‐based care increased from 19% in 2009 to 77% in 2016. Treatment success was higher for community‐based care (79%) than clinic‐based care (68%, P = 0.002). After adjustment for covariate factors among adults (n = 552), the risk of adverse outcomes (death, loss to follow‐up, treatment failure) in community‐based care was reduced by 41% (adjusted hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39–0.91). Findings were supported by sensitivity analyses. The care provider's per‐patient costs for community‐based (USD13 345) and clinic‐based (USD12 990) care were similar. Conclusions Ambulatory treatment outcomes were good, and community‐based care achieved better treatment outcomes than clinic‐based care at comparable costs. Contextualised DR‐TB care programmes are feasible and can support treatment expansion in rural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex Telnov
- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Operational Centre Geneva), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nanako Yano
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Helen Cox
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Inoussa Zabsonre
- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | | | - Debrah Vambe
- National TB Control Programme, Manzini, Eswatini
| | | | - Barbara Rusch
- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Operational Centre Geneva), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marie Luce Tombo
- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Operational Centre Geneva), Mbabane, Eswatini
| | - Iza Ciglenecki
- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Operational Centre Geneva), Geneva, Switzerland
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