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Journal Article > Research

Seven-year experience of a primary care antiretroviral treatment programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Boulle AM, van Cutsem G, Hilderbrand K, Cragg C, Abrahams M, Mathee S, Ford NP, Knight L, Osler M, Myers J, Goemaere E, Coetzee D, Maartens G
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We report on outcomes after 7 years of a community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa, with death registry linkages to correct for mortality under-ascertainment. DESIGN: This is an observational cohort study. METHODS: Since inception, patient-level clinical data have been prospectively captured on-site into an electronic patient information system. Patients with available civil identification numbers who were lost to follow-up were matched with the national death registry to ascertain their vital status. Corrected mortality estimates weighted these patients to represent all patients lost to follow-up. CD4 cell count outcomes were reported conditioned on continuous virological suppression. RESULTS: Seven thousand, three hundred and twenty-three treatment-naive adults (68% women) started ART between 2001 and 2007, with annual enrolment increasing from 80 in 2001 to 2087 in 2006. Of 9.8% of patients lost to follow-up for at least 6 months, 32.8% had died. Corrected mortality was 20.9% at 5 years (95% confidence interval 17.9-24.3). Mortality fell over time as patients accessed care earlier (median CD4 cell count at enrolment increased from 43 cells/microl in 2001 to 131 cells/microl in 2006). Patients who remained virologically suppressed continued to gain CD4 cells at 5 years (median 22 cells/microl per 6 months). By 5 years, 14.0% of patients had failed virologically and 12.2% had been switched to second-line therapy. CONCLUSION: At a time of considerable debate about future global funding of ART programmes in resource-poor settings, this study has demonstrated substantial and durable clinical benefits for those able to access ART throughout this period, in spite of increasing loss to follow-up.
Countries
South Africa
Subject Area
HIV/AIDS
DOI
10.1097/QAD.0b013e328333bfb7
Published Date
20-Feb-2010
PubMed ID
20057311
Languages
English
Journal
AIDS
Volume / Issue / Pages
Volume 24, Issue 4
Issue Date
20-Feb-2010
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