Survival of persons living with HIV/AIDS: A multicentric study from India

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLHA) enrolled from antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers located in three different cities in India – Delhi, Pune and Kolkata, and were followed up at six monthly intervals monitoring the WHO stage, CD4 counts, complete blood counts and liver and kidney function tests, for a duration of three years. The incidence of mortality among HIV/AIDS patients on ART was 5·0 per 1000 patient years (21/1410, 1.4%). Age at initiation of ART being above 35 years was the only significant predictor of mortality (log rank p = 0·018). Multivariable analysis showed significant association of an unfavourable outcome (defined as mortality or development of opportunistic infection during follow-up) with male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.26, p = < 0.01) and being unmarried at ART initiation (AOR = 1.39, p = 0.005). The survival of PLHA with good adherence to ART is independent of the WHO stage or CD4 counts at initiation of ART.