Initiation of ART at First Clinic Visit Is Efficacious

At two public clinics in South Africa, initiation of ART at the first clinic visit after HIV+ test results increased viral suppression rate by 26% at 10 months compared with a standard multivisit strategy.

After a positive HIV test, antiretroviral therapy (ART) typically is initiated only after multiple clinical visits over several weeks, during which patients often are lost to follow-up. In this study conducted at two public clinics in South Africa, newly diagnosed HIV+ patients were randomly assigned to immediately start ART (using rapid point-of-care laboratory testing and an accelerated sequence of clinical assessment and education) or to the standard schedule, typically involving three to five additional clinic visits over 2 to 4 weeks. Outcome measures included how many participants started ART and how many were still in care and virally suppressed (defined as CD4 cell count <400 copies/mL) at 10 months.

During a 15-month period, 377 peo…

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

Initiation of ART at First Clinic Visit Is Efficacious

Topics

Reviewing Author