Abstract
Undetermined attrition prohibits full understanding of the coverage and effectiveness of HIV programs. Outcomes following loss to follow-up (LTFU) among antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients may differ according to their reasons for ART initiation. We compare the true outcomes of adult patients previously identified as LTFU by reason for ART initiation in 8 health facilities in north eastern South Africa. Adult HIV patient records were linked to health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) data from 2014 to 2017. Outcomes of adults categorized as LTFU (>90 days late for the last scheduled clinic visit) were determined through clinic and routine tracing record reviews, consultation of HDSS data, and supplementary tracing. We calculated the proportion of patients per outcome category and performed competing risk survival analysis to estimate the cumulative incidence of death, transfer, migration, ART interruption, and re-engagement following LTFU. Of 895/1017 patients LTFU with an outcome ascertained, 120 (13.4%) had died, 225 (25.1%) re-engaged, 50 (5.6%) migrated out of the HDSS, 75 (8.4%) were alive and not on treatment, and 315 (35.1%) transferred their treatment. These outcomes varied by sex and pregnancy status at ART initiation. Mortality was less likely among pregnant women, patients with higher baseline CD4, and more likely among older patients. Patient survival and transfers to other facilities are considerably higher than those suggested in earlier studies. Outcomes differ for women who were pregnant or postpartum when initiating ART, with this population less likely to have died and more likely to have migrated.
Highlights
As HIV programs in sub-Saharan Africa have expanded, emphasis has been put on initiating patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as early as possible in the course of HIV infection.[1,2] Eligibility for ART has changed since the adoption of Option B+ which made all pregnant and postpartum women eligible for ART as soon as they tested HIV positive and “Treat all” which extended this eligibility to all people living with HIV.[3]
We calculated the proportion of patients per outcome category and performed competing risk survival analysis to estimate the cumulative incidence of death, transfer, migration, ART interruption, and re-engagement following loss to follow-up (LTFU)
Of 895/1017 patients LTFU with an outcome ascertained, 120 (13.4%) had died, 225 (25.1%) re-engaged, 50 (5.6%) migrated out of the HDSS, 75 (8.4%) were alive and not on treatment, and 315 (35.1%) transferred their treatment. These outcomes varied by sex and pregnancy status at ART initiation
Summary
As HIV programs in sub-Saharan Africa have expanded, emphasis has been put on initiating patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) as early as possible in the course of HIV infection.[1,2] Eligibility for ART has changed since the adoption of Option B+ which made all pregnant and postpartum women eligible for ART as soon as they tested HIV positive and “Treat all” which extended this eligibility to all people living with HIV.[3] ART initiation rates among people diagnosed with HIV have increased,[4,5,6] many programs have experienced high attrition rates, especially among women who initiate ART for prevention of mother-tochild transmission of HIV (PMTCT).[7] Many of these patients are classified as lost to follow-up (LTFU), a general term for unknown outcomes of patients who have not returned for a scheduled clinic visit. Outcomes following loss to follow-up (LTFU) among antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients may differ according to their reasons for ART initiation. Setting: We compare the true outcomes of adult patients previously identified as LTFU by reason for ART initiation in 8 health facilities in north eastern South Africa
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Schedule a callMore From: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
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