Seven-year experience of a primary care antiretroviral treatment programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa

• DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e328333bfb7
• Publication Date: 2010-02-27T06:09:34Z
• Authors: Andrew Boulle; Gilles Van Cutsem; Katherine Hilderb...; Carol Cragg; Musaed Abrahams; Shaheed Mathee; Nathan Ford; Louise Knight; Meg Osler; Jonny Myers; Eric Goemaere; David Coetzee; Gary Maartens
• Keywords: Antiretroviral treatment

We report on outcomes after 7 years of a community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in Khayelitsha, South Africa, with death registry linkages to correct for mortality under-ascertainment.This is an observational cohort study.Since inception, patient-level clinical data have been prospectively captured on-site into electronic patient information system. Patients available civil identification numbers who were lost follow-up matched the national ascertain their vital status. Corrected estimates weighted these patients represent all follow-up. CD4 cell count reported conditioned continuous virological suppression.Seven thousand, three hundred and twenty-three treatment-naive adults (68% women) started ART between 2001 2007, annual enrolment increasing from 80 2087 2006. Of 9.8% at least 6 months, 32.8% had died. was 20.9% 5 (95% confidence interval 17.9-24.3). Mortality fell over time as accessed care earlier (median increased 43 cells/microl 131 2006). remained virologically suppressed continued gain cells 22 per months). By years, 14.0% failed 12.2% switched second-line therapy.At considerable debate about future global funding programmes resource-poor settings, this study has demonstrated substantial durable benefits those able access throughout period, spite loss