ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We describe the association between age at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and 24-month CD4 cell response in West African HIV-infected children. METHODS: All HIV-infected children from the IeDEA paediatric West African cohort, initiating ART, with at least two CD4 cell count measurements, including one at ART initiation (baseline) were included. CD4 cell gain on ART was estimated using a multivariable linear mixed model adjusted for baseline variables: age, CD4 cell count, sex, first-line ART regimen. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a Cox proportional hazards regression model compared immune recovery for age within 24 months post-ART. RESULTS: Of the 4808 children initiated on ART, 3014 were enrolled at a median age of 5.6 years; 61.2% were immunodeficient. After 12 months, children at least 4 years at baseline had significantly lower CD4 cell gains compared with children less than 2 years, the reference group (P<0.001). However, by 24 months, we observed higher CD4 cell gain in children who initiated ART between 3 and 4 years compared with those less than 2 years (P<0.001). The 24-month CD4 cell gain was also strongest in immunodeficient children at baseline. Among these children, 75% reached immune recovery: 12-month rates were significantly highest in all those aged 2-5 years at ART initiation compared with those less than 2 years. Beyond 12 months on ART, immune recovery was significantly lower in children initiated more than 5 years (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.56-0.86). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that both the initiation of ART at the earliest age less than 5 years and before any severe immunodeficiency is needed for improving 24-month immune recovery on ART.
Subject(s)
Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/immunology , Africa, Western , Age Factors , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Sex Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We describe health care resource utilization among HIV-1-infected children who have not yet undergone antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: HIV-infected children enrolled prospectively in an HIV care programme in 2 health facilities in Abidjan (2004-2009) were followed up from date of inclusion until database closeout, death, ART initiation, or loss to follow-up (no clinical contact for more than 6 months). Incidences of health care resource utilization (outpatient care, inpatient day care, and hospitalization) were described according to severe morbidity and mixed effect log linear models were computed to identify associated factors. RESULTS: Overall, 405 children were included, entering care at a median age of 4.5 years, 66.9% were receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, and 27.7% met 2006 WHO criteria for immunodeficiency by age. The median follow-up time was 11.6 months (interquartile range: 1.4; 30.7). Overall, 371 clinical events occurred in 162 children yielding to an incidence rate (IR) of 60.9/100 child-years (CY) [95% confidence interval (CI): 55.1 to 67.2]: 57% of clinical events led to outpatient care (IR: 33/100 CY), 38% to inpatient day care (IR: 22/100 CY), and 10% to hospitalization (IR: 5.9/100 CY). Further medical examinations were made allowing confirmed diagnoses in 40% of those (IR: 22.4/100 CY). Outpatient care was less common among immunodeficient children than those not (relative risk [RR] = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.56), in those whose main caregivers are both parents compared with those who are primarily cared for by their mother only (RR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.77). CONCLUSION: Untreated HIV-infected children require substantial inpatient and outpatient care in a context where ART is scaling up but still not available to all.