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Long-term Outcome of Antiretroviral Treatment in Patients With and Without Concomitant Tuberculosis Receiving Health Center-Based Care-Results From a Prospective Cohort Study

Reepalu, Anton LU orcid ; Balcha, Taye Tolera LU ; Sturegård, Erik LU ; Medstrand, Patrik LU orcid and Björkman, Per LU orcid (2017) In Open Forum Infectious Diseases 4(4). p.219-219
Abstract

Background: In order to increase treatment coverage, antiretroviral treatment (ART) is provided through primary health care in low-income high-burden countries, where tuberculosis (TB) co-infection is common. We investigated the long-term outcome of health center-based ART, with regard to concomitant TB.

Methods: ART-naïve adults were included in a prospective cohort at Ethiopian health centers and followed for up to 4 years after starting ART. All participants were investigated for active TB at inclusion. The primary study outcomes were the impact of concomitant TB on all-cause mortality, loss to follow-up (LTFU), and lack of virological suppression (VS). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards models with... (More)

Background: In order to increase treatment coverage, antiretroviral treatment (ART) is provided through primary health care in low-income high-burden countries, where tuberculosis (TB) co-infection is common. We investigated the long-term outcome of health center-based ART, with regard to concomitant TB.

Methods: ART-naïve adults were included in a prospective cohort at Ethiopian health centers and followed for up to 4 years after starting ART. All participants were investigated for active TB at inclusion. The primary study outcomes were the impact of concomitant TB on all-cause mortality, loss to follow-up (LTFU), and lack of virological suppression (VS). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards models with multivariate adjustments were used.

Results: In total, 141/729 (19%) subjects had concomitant TB, 85% with bacteriological confirmation (median CD4 count TB, 169 cells/mm3; IQR, 99-265; non-TB, 194 cells/mm3; IQR, 122-275). During follow-up (median, 2.5 years), 60 (8%) died and 58 (8%) were LTFU. After ≥6 months of ART, 131/630 (21%) had lack of VS. Concomitant TB did not influence the rates of death, LTFU, or VS. Male gender and malnutrition were associated with higher risk of adverse outcomes. Regardless of TB co-infection status, even after 3 years of ART, two-thirds of participants had CD4 counts below 500 cells/mm3.

Conclusions: Concomitant TB did not impact treatment outcomes in adults investigated for active TB before starting ART at Ethiopian health centers. However, one-third of patients had unsatisfactory long-term treatment outcomes and immunologic recovery was slow, illustrating the need for new interventions to optimize ART programs.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
volume
4
issue
4
pages
219 - 219
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:29226173
  • scopus:85066487832
ISSN
2328-8957
DOI
10.1093/ofid/ofx219
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ee06e87f-b53f-4e20-904d-18ecf6969d6f
date added to LUP
2019-06-18 18:30:37
date last changed
2024-03-03 15:02:51
@article{ee06e87f-b53f-4e20-904d-18ecf6969d6f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: In order to increase treatment coverage, antiretroviral treatment (ART) is provided through primary health care in low-income high-burden countries, where tuberculosis (TB) co-infection is common. We investigated the long-term outcome of health center-based ART, with regard to concomitant TB.</p><p>Methods: ART-naïve adults were included in a prospective cohort at Ethiopian health centers and followed for up to 4 years after starting ART. All participants were investigated for active TB at inclusion. The primary study outcomes were the impact of concomitant TB on all-cause mortality, loss to follow-up (LTFU), and lack of virological suppression (VS). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards models with multivariate adjustments were used.</p><p>Results: In total, 141/729 (19%) subjects had concomitant TB, 85% with bacteriological confirmation (median CD4 count TB, 169 cells/mm3; IQR, 99-265; non-TB, 194 cells/mm3; IQR, 122-275). During follow-up (median, 2.5 years), 60 (8%) died and 58 (8%) were LTFU. After ≥6 months of ART, 131/630 (21%) had lack of VS. Concomitant TB did not influence the rates of death, LTFU, or VS. Male gender and malnutrition were associated with higher risk of adverse outcomes. Regardless of TB co-infection status, even after 3 years of ART, two-thirds of participants had CD4 counts below 500 cells/mm3.</p><p>Conclusions: Concomitant TB did not impact treatment outcomes in adults investigated for active TB before starting ART at Ethiopian health centers. However, one-third of patients had unsatisfactory long-term treatment outcomes and immunologic recovery was slow, illustrating the need for new interventions to optimize ART programs.</p>}},
  author       = {{Reepalu, Anton and Balcha, Taye Tolera and Sturegård, Erik and Medstrand, Patrik and Björkman, Per}},
  issn         = {{2328-8957}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{219--219}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Open Forum Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{Long-term Outcome of Antiretroviral Treatment in Patients With and Without Concomitant Tuberculosis Receiving Health Center-Based Care-Results From a Prospective Cohort Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofx219}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/ofid/ofx219}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}