Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• NGLAZI, M. D
• KAPLAN, R
• CALDWELL, J
• PETON, N
• LAWN, S. D
• WOOD, R
• BEKKER, L.-G

Titel

Antiretroviral treatment uptake in patients with HIV- associated TB attending co-located TB and ART services

Ist Teil von

• SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 2012-12, Vol.102 (12), p.936-939

Ort / Verlag

Rondebosch: Health and Medical Publishing Group

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Delivery of integrated care for patients with HIV-associated TB is challenging. We assessed the uptake and timing of antiretroviral treatment (ART) among eligible patients attending a primary care service with co-located ART and TB clinics. In a retrospective cohort study, all HIV-associated TB patients (≥18 years old) who commenced TB treatment in 2010 were included. Data were analysed using basic descriptive statistics and log-binomial regression analysis. Of a total of 497 patients diagnosed with HIV-associated TB, 274 were eligible to start ART for the first time (median CD4 count, 159 cells/µl). ART was started during TB treatment by 220 (80.3%) patients. Among the 54 (19.7%) who did not start ART, 23 (42.6%) were either lost to follow-up (LTFU) or died before enrolling for ART; 12 (22.2%) were either LTFU or died after enrolling but before starting ART; 5 (9.3%) were transferred out; and 14 (25.9%) only started ART after completion of TB treatment. The median delay between starting TB treatment and starting ART was 51 days (IQR 29 - 77). Overall, only 58.6% of patients started ART within 8 weeks of TB treatment, and 12.7% of those with CD4 counts <50 cells/µl started ART within 2 weeks. In a setting with co-located TB and ART clinics, delays to starting ART were substantial, and one-fifth of eligible patients did not start ART during TB treatment. Co-location of services alone is insufficient to permit timely initiation of ART; further measures need to be implemented to facilitate integrated treatment.