Predictors of mortality among HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mortality rate of HIV-infected children can be reversed under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The impact of HAART on the mortality of HIV-infected children in Cameroon has not been extensively documented. We aimed to measure the mortality rate of HIV-infected children under HAART and to identify predictive factors of mortality.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 221 children initiated on HAART from 2005 to 2009 and followed-up until 2013. Survival data was analyzed using Kaplan Meier method and Cox regression model to identify independent predictors of child mortality on HAART.

RESULTS: Overall, 9.9% of children (n=22) died over a follow-up period of 755 child-years (mortality of 2.9 per 100 child-years); 70% of deaths occurred during the first six months of HAART. The probability of survival after four years of treatment was 88.7% (95% CI=[84.2-93.3]). During the multivariate analysis of baseline variables, we observed that the WHO clinical stages III and IV (HR: 3.55 [1.09-13.6] and HR: 7.7 [3.07-31.2]) and age≤1year at HAART initiation were independently associated with death (HR: 2.1 [1.01-5.08]). Neither orphanhood, baseline CD4 count or hemoglobin level nor low nutritional status predicted death in this cohort.

CONCLUSION: The mortality of children receiving HAART was low after five years of follow-up and it was strongly associated with WHO stages III and IV and a younger age at treatment initiation.