Abstract

MARTINEZ FERNANDEZ, Liodelvio et al. Long-term mortality and follow-up loss of patients on antiretroviral therapy. Rev cubana med [online]. 2014, vol.53, n.4, pp. 373-391. ISSN 0034-7523.

Introduction: long-term results of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Africa have been poorly informed. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of TARVC through 2 factors: mortality and follow-up loss. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted in 1000 adults who began cART in 2004 and were followed until 2009 at "Esperança" Hospital in Luanda. Results: The CD4 + count mean baseline of T lymphocytes was 147.1 cells/mm3. 46 % presented with clinical stage III or IV according to World Health Organization standards. The average age was 34.6 years. During 60 000 person-months follow-up (mean 34 months), 335 patients died, 153 lost follow up and adherence to treatment after 5 years was 51.2 %. The gross mortality rate was 7.9 (95 % CI 5.6 to 8.3) 100 person-years. A significantly shorter survival mean was detected in women (39.1 months vs. 42), in those with lymphocytes CD4 + count baseline below 200 cells/mm3 (27.3 months vs. 32.4), in those classified in advanced stages according to WHO standards (25.6 months vs. 31.7) and in those reaching both clinical and immunological criteria to start therapy (30.4 months vs. 33.7 immunological only). Conclusions: A good long-term adherence to treatment and clinical outcomes were observed. The relatively high mortality after 5 years presents a major challenge for better cART results and suggests the need to strengthen strategies to promote treatment adherence.

Keywords : antiretroviral therapy; cohort study; mortality rate; HIV; program outcomes; survival analysis; sub-Saharan Africa.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )