Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS One. 2012 February 23; Volume 7 (Issue 2); e31706.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0031706
Henriques J, Pujades M, McGuire M, Szumilin E, Iwaz J, et al.
PLOS One. 2012 February 23; Volume 7 (Issue 2); e31706.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0031706
OBJECTIVE
The evaluation of HIV treatment programs is generally based on an estimation of survival among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). In large HIV programs, loss to follow-up (LFU) rates remain high despite active patient tracing, which is likely to bias survival estimates and survival regression analyses.
METHODS
We compared uncorrected survival estimates derived from routine program data with estimates obtained by applying six correction methods that use updated outcome data by a field survey targeting LFU patients in a rural HIV program in Malawi. These methods were based on double-sampling and differed according to the weights given to survival estimates in LFU and non-LFU subpopulations. We then proposed a correction of the survival regression analysis.
RESULTS
Among 6,727 HIV-infected adults receiving ART, 9% were LFU after one year. The uncorrected survival estimates from routine data were 91% in women and 84% in men. According to increasing sophistication of the correction methods, the corrected survival estimates ranged from 89% to 85% in women and 82% to 77% in men. The estimates derived from uncorrected regression analyses were highly biased for initial tuberculosis mortality ratios (RR; 95% CI: 1.07; 0.76-1.50 vs. 2.06 to 2.28 with different correction weights), Kaposi sarcoma diagnosis (2.11; 1.61-2.76 vs. 2.64 to 3.9), and year of ART initiation (1.40; 1.17-1.66 vs. 1.29 to 1.34).
CONCLUSIONS
In HIV programs with high LFU rates, the use of correction methods based on non-exhaustive double-sampling data are necessary to minimise the bias in survival estimates and survival regressions.
The evaluation of HIV treatment programs is generally based on an estimation of survival among patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). In large HIV programs, loss to follow-up (LFU) rates remain high despite active patient tracing, which is likely to bias survival estimates and survival regression analyses.
METHODS
We compared uncorrected survival estimates derived from routine program data with estimates obtained by applying six correction methods that use updated outcome data by a field survey targeting LFU patients in a rural HIV program in Malawi. These methods were based on double-sampling and differed according to the weights given to survival estimates in LFU and non-LFU subpopulations. We then proposed a correction of the survival regression analysis.
RESULTS
Among 6,727 HIV-infected adults receiving ART, 9% were LFU after one year. The uncorrected survival estimates from routine data were 91% in women and 84% in men. According to increasing sophistication of the correction methods, the corrected survival estimates ranged from 89% to 85% in women and 82% to 77% in men. The estimates derived from uncorrected regression analyses were highly biased for initial tuberculosis mortality ratios (RR; 95% CI: 1.07; 0.76-1.50 vs. 2.06 to 2.28 with different correction weights), Kaposi sarcoma diagnosis (2.11; 1.61-2.76 vs. 2.64 to 3.9), and year of ART initiation (1.40; 1.17-1.66 vs. 1.29 to 1.34).
CONCLUSIONS
In HIV programs with high LFU rates, the use of correction methods based on non-exhaustive double-sampling data are necessary to minimise the bias in survival estimates and survival regressions.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Public Health Action. 2013 June 21; Volume 3 (Issue 2); 109-12.; DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0012
Buard V, Van der Bergh R, Tayler-Smith K, Godia P, Sobry A, et al.
Public Health Action. 2013 June 21; Volume 3 (Issue 2); 109-12.; DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0012
SETTING
Médecins Sans Frontières Clinic for sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), Nairobi, Kenya.
OBJECTIVES
Among survivors of SGBV in 2011, to describe demographic characteristics and episodes of sexual violence, medical management, pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related outcomes.
DESIGN
Retrospective review of clinical records and SGBV register.
RESULTS
Survivors attending the clinic increased from seven in 2007 to 866 in 2011. Of the 866 survivors included, 92% were female, 34% were children and 54% knew the aggressor; 73% of the assaults occurred inside a home and most commonly in the evening or at night. Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV was given to 536 (94%), prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections to 731 (96%) and emergency contraception to 358 (83%) eligible patients. Hepatitis B and tetanus toxoid vaccinations were given to 774 survivors, but respectively only 46% and 14% received a second injection. Eight (4.5%) of 174 women who underwent urine pregnancy testing were positive at 1 month. Of 851 survivors HIV-tested at baseline, 96 (11%) were HIV-positive. None of the 220 (29%) HIV-negative individuals who returned for repeat HIV testing after 3 months was positive.
CONCLUSION
Acceptable, good quality SGBV medical care can be provided in large cities of sub-Saharan Africa, although further work is needed to improve follow-up interventions.
Médecins Sans Frontières Clinic for sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), Nairobi, Kenya.
OBJECTIVES
Among survivors of SGBV in 2011, to describe demographic characteristics and episodes of sexual violence, medical management, pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related outcomes.
DESIGN
Retrospective review of clinical records and SGBV register.
RESULTS
Survivors attending the clinic increased from seven in 2007 to 866 in 2011. Of the 866 survivors included, 92% were female, 34% were children and 54% knew the aggressor; 73% of the assaults occurred inside a home and most commonly in the evening or at night. Post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV was given to 536 (94%), prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections to 731 (96%) and emergency contraception to 358 (83%) eligible patients. Hepatitis B and tetanus toxoid vaccinations were given to 774 survivors, but respectively only 46% and 14% received a second injection. Eight (4.5%) of 174 women who underwent urine pregnancy testing were positive at 1 month. Of 851 survivors HIV-tested at baseline, 96 (11%) were HIV-positive. None of the 220 (29%) HIV-negative individuals who returned for repeat HIV testing after 3 months was positive.
CONCLUSION
Acceptable, good quality SGBV medical care can be provided in large cities of sub-Saharan Africa, although further work is needed to improve follow-up interventions.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
AIDS. 2009 April 27; Volume 23 (Issue 7); 853-861.; DOI:10.1097/QAD.0b013e32832913ee
Madec Y, Szumilin E, Genevier C, Ferradini LLF, Balkan S, et al.
AIDS. 2009 April 27; Volume 23 (Issue 7); 853-861.; DOI:10.1097/QAD.0b013e32832913ee
BACKGROUND
In developing countries, access to laboratory tests remains limited, and the use of simple tools such as weight to monitor HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy should be evaluated.
METHODS
Cohort study of 2451 Cambodian and 2618 Kenyan adults who initiated antiretroviral therapy between 2001 and 2007. The prognostic value of weight gain at 3 months of antiretroviral therapy on 3-6 months mortality, and at 6 months on 6-12 months mortality, was investigated using Poisson regression.
RESULTS
Mortality rates [95% confidence interval (CI)] between 3 and 6 months of antiretroviral therapy were 9.9 (7.6-12.7) and 13.5 (11.0-16.7) per 100 person-years in Cambodia and Kenya, respectively. At 3 months, among patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 kg/m (43% of the study population), mortality rate ratios (95% CI) were 6.3 (3.0-13.1) and 3.4 (1.4-8.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5 and 5-10%, respectively, compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%. At 6 months, weight gain was also predictive of subsequent mortality: mortality rate ratio (95% CI) was 7.3 (4.0-13.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5% compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%.
CONCLUSION
Weight gain at 3 months is strongly associated with survival. Poor compliance or undiagnosed opportunistic infections should be investigated in patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 and achieving weight gain less than or equal to 10%.
In developing countries, access to laboratory tests remains limited, and the use of simple tools such as weight to monitor HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy should be evaluated.
METHODS
Cohort study of 2451 Cambodian and 2618 Kenyan adults who initiated antiretroviral therapy between 2001 and 2007. The prognostic value of weight gain at 3 months of antiretroviral therapy on 3-6 months mortality, and at 6 months on 6-12 months mortality, was investigated using Poisson regression.
RESULTS
Mortality rates [95% confidence interval (CI)] between 3 and 6 months of antiretroviral therapy were 9.9 (7.6-12.7) and 13.5 (11.0-16.7) per 100 person-years in Cambodia and Kenya, respectively. At 3 months, among patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 kg/m (43% of the study population), mortality rate ratios (95% CI) were 6.3 (3.0-13.1) and 3.4 (1.4-8.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5 and 5-10%, respectively, compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%. At 6 months, weight gain was also predictive of subsequent mortality: mortality rate ratio (95% CI) was 7.3 (4.0-13.3) for those with weight gain less than or equal to 5% compared with those with weight gain of more than 10%.
CONCLUSION
Weight gain at 3 months is strongly associated with survival. Poor compliance or undiagnosed opportunistic infections should be investigated in patients with initial body mass index less than or equal to 18.5 and achieving weight gain less than or equal to 10%.
Journal Article > Meta-AnalysisAbstract
Trop Med Int Health. 2013 June 20; Volume 18 (Issue 9); DOI:10.1111/tmi.12142
Ben-Farhat J, Gale M, Szumilin E, Balkan S, Poulet E, et al.
Trop Med Int Health. 2013 June 20; Volume 18 (Issue 9); DOI:10.1111/tmi.12142
Journal Article > ResearchAbstract
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 July 25; Volume 64 (Issue 5); DOI:10.1097/QAI.0b013e3182a61e8d
Bastard M, Nicolay N, Szumilin E, Balkan S, Poulet E, et al.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 July 25; Volume 64 (Issue 5); DOI:10.1097/QAI.0b013e3182a61e8d
Gaining understanding of the period before antiretroviral therapy (ART) is needed to improve treatment outcomes and to reduce HIV transmission. This study describes the cascade of enrollment in HIV care, pre-ART follow-up, and predictors of mortality and lost to follow-up (LTFU) before ART initiation.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014 June 24; Volume 67 (Issue 2); DOI:10.1097/QAI.0000000000000268
Grimsrud A, Balkan S, Casas EDT, Lujan J, van Cutsem G, et al.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014 June 24; Volume 67 (Issue 2); DOI:10.1097/QAI.0000000000000268
Little is known about the evolution of program outcomes associated with rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings. We describe temporal trends and assess associations with mortality and loss to follow-up (LTFU) in HIV cohorts from 8 countries.