Mortality Remains High Among Urban Poor Despite ART Availability

Even with access to free ART and specialty care at a public clinic, 10% of HIV-infected patients with nadir CD4 counts ≤350 cells/mm³ died during a 4-year period.

Widespread use of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in impressive population-wide declines in HIV-related morbidity and mortality. But do these benefits extend to disadvantaged, urban HIV-infected populations in the U.S.?

Investigators evaluated mortality rates among 1651 HIV-infected adults in San Francisco who had nadir CD4 counts ≤350 cells/mm³ and were seen at least twice within 1 year, between 2000 and 2009, at a public HIV clinic that offered universal access to ART. The study population was 87% men and 47% white. At study entry (usually the patient's second clinic visit), patients had a median age of 49, a median CD4 count of 205 cells/mm³, and a median viral load of 35,000 copies/mL; ART had been prescribed for 41% (vs…

Reviewing Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Mortality Remains High Among Urban Poor Despite ART Availability

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Reviewing Author