High viral suppression and low attrition in healthy HIV-infected patients initiated on ART with CD4 above 500 cells/µL in a program setting in Uganda

• Published in: African health sciences 2020-03, Vol.20 (1), p.132-141
• Main Authors: Byonanebye, Dathan M, Semitala, Fred C, Katende, Jackson, Bakenga, Alex, Arinaitwe, Irene, Kyambadde, Peter, Musinguzi, Patrick, Biraro, Irene Andia, Byakika-Kibwika, Pauline, Kamya, Moses R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active - methods; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Female; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - virology; Humans; Male; Uganda - epidemiology; Viral Load - drug effects
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i1.18

The World Health Organization recommends antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-infected patients at all CD4 counts. However, there are concerns that asymptomatic patients may have poorer viral suppression and high attrition. We sought to determine attrition and viral suppression among healthy HIV-infected patients initiated on ART in program settings. This cross-sectional study enrolled ART-experienced patients attending two PEPFAR-supported, high-volume clinics in Kampala, Uganda. Eligible patients were >18 years and had completed at least six months on ART. Participants were interviewed on socio-demographics, ART history and plasma viral load (VL) determined using Abbott Real-time. Predictors of viral suppression (