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Antiretroviral therapy outcomes among adolescents and young adults in a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya


Patrick Mburugu
Peter Muiruri
Nelly Opiyo
Justus Simba
Jane Adunda
Rosemary Kawira
Onesmus Gachuno

Abstract

Background: Limited data is available on the treatment outcomes of HIV infected adolescents and young adults (AYA) in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV-infected adolescents and young adults (AYA) are at high risk of developing antiretroviral treatment failure.


Objective: To determine the clinical, immunological and virologic outcomes of AYA at a tertiary hospital in Kenya.


Methodology: A longitudinal study was conducted among AYA age 10-24 years attending Kenyatta National Hospital comprehensive care center. Clinical data was abstracted from electronic medical records for study participants with at least 6 months of follow-up using a structured data abstraction sheet.


Results: A total of 250 AYA age 10 to 24 years were included. The median age was 16 years. The median CD4 cell count was 650.6 cells/mm3 (IQR 350.7-884.0). More than half (60.6%) of AYA had a CD4 cell count higher than 500 cells/mm3. Overall, 76.9% of AYA had achieved viral suppression (viral load <1000 copies/ml). There was a significant increase in virologic failure with higher age and late adolescents and young adults were more likely to have a viral load > 1000 copies/ ml p<0.012.


Conclusion: The overall virologic suppression in this cohort of AYA was sub-optimal. Both immunological and virologic outcomes were worse among late adolescents (18-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years).


Keywords: Adolescents; HIV; Kenya; virologic suppression; young adults.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905