Low risk of death, but substantial program attrition, in pediatric HIV treatment cohorts in sub-saharan Africa

Francois Dabis, Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, Elise Arrive, Daniel Kyabayinze, Benoit Marquis, Leticia Namale, Susan Olet, Nathan Tumwesigye, Alain Azondekon, Alice Zougrana Kaboré, Andrew Boulle, David Coetzee, Avi Violari, Rikash Jokhan, Christine Ondoa-Onama, Elain Abrams, Frida Sunioh, Haby Signaté Sy, Fatou Ly Ndiaye, Higgins MassaweAugustin Massawe, Julius Kiwanuka, Kankasa Chipepo, Mwiya Mwiya, Lorna Renner, Bamenla Goka, Louise Wemin, Margaret Pascoe, Maria Nanyonga, Mariam Sylla, Fatoumata Dicko-Traoré, Marie Claude Uwurukundo, Mark Cotton, Helena Rabie, Hans Prozesky, Clair Edson, Heinrich Weber, Ayanda Madide, Mark Paterson, Narcisse Muganga, Patricia Fassinou, Pelagie Nimbona, Pierre Kariyo, Ralf Weigel, Sarah Rowland Jones, Akum Aveika, Tim Meade, Chewe Luo, Elaine Abrams, Marie Louise Newell, Mary Pat Kieffer, Matthias Egger, Paolo Miotti, Ruth Nduati, Valériane Leroy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: To date, an estimated 10% of children eligible for antiretroviral treatment (ART) receive it, and the frequency of retention in programs is unknown. We evaluated the 2-year risks of death and loss to follow-up (LTFU) of children after ART initiation in a multicenter study in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Pooled analysis of routine individual data from 16 participating clinics produced overall Kaplan-Meier estimates of the probabilities of death or LTFU after ART initiation. Risk factors analysis used Weibull regression, accounting for between-cohort heterogeneity. Results: The median age of 2405 children at ART initiation was 4.9 years (12%, younger than 12 months), 52% were male, 70% had severe immunodeficiency, and 59% started ART with a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The 2-year risk of death after ART initiation was 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.9 to 8.1), independently associated with baseline severe anemia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 4.10 [CI: 2.36 to 7.13]), immunodeficiency (adjusted aHR: 2.95 [CI: 1.49 to 5.82]), and severe clinical status (adjusted aHR: 3.64 [CI: 1.95 to 6.81]); the 2-year risk of LTFU was 10.3% (CI: 8.9 to 11.9), higher in children with severe clinical status. Conclusions: Once on treatment, the 2-year risk of death is low but the LTFU risk is substantial. ART is still mainly initiated at advanced disease stage in African children, reinforcing the need for early HIV diagnosis, early initiation of ART, and procedures to increase program retention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)523-531
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Volume49
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antiretroviral treatment
  • Children
  • Death
  • HIV
  • Loss to follow-up
  • Sub-Saharan Africa

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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