Life Expectancy Correlates Strongly with CD4 Count at ART Initiation

Projected life expectancy was 15 years longer among patients in the U.K. who started ART at CD4 counts of 200–350 cells/mm³ than among those who started at <100 cells/mm³.

Reasons for earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected individuals continue to accumulate, but undoubtedly the most important one is improvement in survival for those being treated. A recent analysis from the UK CHIC study helps to quantify this benefit and also underscores the importance of earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Researchers evaluated life expectancy and years of potential life lost for 17,661 non–injection drug users (age, >20) who started combination ART (≥3 drugs) at CD4 counts ≤350 cells/mm³ between January 1996 and December 2008. During the course of the study, projected life expectancy from age 20 was found to increase by nearly 16 years. In an analysis restricted to the 9657 patients who started comb…

Reviewing Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Life Expectancy Correlates Strongly with CD4 Count at ART Initiation

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Reviewing Author