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Impact of HIV-associated conditions on mortality in people commencing anti-retroviral therapy in resource limited settings

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journal contribution
posted on 2013-07-01, 00:00 authored by C Marshall, A Curtis, T Spelman, Daniel O'Brien, J Greig, L Shanks, P du Cros, E Casas, M da Fonseca, Eugene AthanEugene Athan, J Elliot
Objectives: To identify associations between specific WHO stage 3 and 4 conditions diagnosed after ART initiation and all
cause mortality for patients in resource-limited settings (RLS).
Design, Setting: Analysis of routine program data collected prospectively from 25 programs in eight countries between
2002 and 2010.
Subjects, Participants: 36,664 study participants with median ART follow-up of 1.26 years (IQR 0.55–2.27).
Outcome Measures: Using a proportional hazards model we identified factors associated with mortality, including the
occurrence of specific WHO clinical stage 3 and 4 conditions during the 6-months following ART initiation.
Results: There were 2922 deaths during follow-up (8.0%). The crude mortality rate was 5.41 deaths per 100 person-years
(95% CI: 5.21–5.61). The diagnosis of any WHO stage 3 or 4 condition during the first 6 months of ART was associated with
increased mortality (HR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.97–2.47). After adjustment for age, sex, region and pre-ART CD4 count, a diagnosis of
extrapulmonary cryptococcosis (aHR: 3.54; 95% CI: 2.74–4.56), HIV wasting syndrome (aHR: 2.92; 95%CI: 2.21 -3.85), nontuberculous
mycobacterial infection (aHR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.80–3.28) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (aHR: 2.17; 95% CI 1.80–
3.28) were associated with the greatest increased mortality. Cerebral toxoplasmosis, pulmonary and extra-pulmonary
tuberculosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma and oral and oesophageal candidiasis were associated with increased mortality, though at
lower rates.
Conclusions: A diagnosis of certain WHO stage 3 and 4 conditions is associated with an increased risk of mortality in those
initiating ART in RLS. This information will assist initiatives to reduce excess mortality, including prioritization of resources for
diagnostics, therapeutic interventions and research.

History

Journal

PLoS one

Volume

8

Issue

7

Article number

e68445

Pagination

1 - 8

Publisher

Public Library of Science

Location

San Francisco, Calif.

ISSN

1932-6203

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2013, The Authors