Influence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the survival of HIV-infected patients: part report of the Ilorin Trial Center

Abstract

This report is part of the ongoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) trial, 167 patients were enlisted, but current analysis was restricted to 107 patients that were about a year old on the programme. The baseline weight, CD4⁺ cell count and serum albumin of 59 males and 48 females age 15-60 years, were compared with values at 12 months of administration of HAART. Patients mean weight, CD4⁺ count and serum albumin increased significantly (p-value < 0.05) by 9.7kg, 127.4/uL and 9.1g/L over the enrolment values. Side effects of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were mild and included; rashes 19.6%, jaundice 7.5% and reactive arthritis 3.5%. Fifty-eight patients (59%) were alive by the end of 1 year, 33 (30%) had died and 11 (10.8%) were lost to follow-up. The risk of death increased 3 times when baseline CD4⁺ count was less than 116.8/uL (RR= 3.36, 95%CI=1.86– 6.06, P-value = 0.000048). TB/HIV co-infection raised the chance of death twice (RR= 2.33, 95%CI=1.31-4.15, P- value=0.005). In conclusion, the use of triple-drug combination of HAART has led to improved CD4⁺ cell count and resolution of clinical symptoms in HIV/AIDS patients. These resulted in increased survival.


Key Words: HAART, AIDS, CD4⁺ cells count and survival.


Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Vol.6(1) 2005:34-39