Characteristics and outcomes of adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV within Southern Africa

Background: Using data from 15 International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS in Southern Africa sites, we compared the characteristics and outcomes of adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (ALPH). Methods: We included ALPH entering care aged less than 13 years with at least one HIV care visit during adolescence (10–19 years). We compared the characteristics and cross-sectional outcomes: transfer out, loss to follow-up (no visit in the 12 months prior to database closure), mortality, and retention between those who entered care aged less than 10 vs. aged 10–13 years; and explored predictors of mortality after age 13 years using Cox Proportional Hazards models. Results: Overall, 16 229 (50% female) ALPH who entered HIV care aged less than 10 years and 8897 (54% female) aged 10–13 years were included and followed for 152 574 person-years. During follow-up, 94.1% initiated antiretroviral therapy, with those who entered care aged less than 10 more likely to have initiated antiretroviral therapy [97.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 97.6; 98.1%] than those who presented aged 10–13 years (87.3%, 95% CI 86.6; 88.0%). At the end of follow-up, 3% had died (entered care aged
Source: AIDS - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Epidemiology and Social Source Type: research