The clinical outcomes and prognosis of older human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes and prognosis of older human immunodeficiency virus (HIV )-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART ) in China .Methods This study was carried out in a retrospective cohort of HIV-infected patients initiated ART between January 2004 and December 2012 at The First Affiliated Hospital ,China Medical University .The patients were enrolled and divided into two groups ,including <50 years group (young and middle-aged group) and≥50 years group (older group) .Immunological and virological responses and mortality were analyzed . Data were analyzed by t test ,chi-square test ,two-way analysis of variance and log-rank test .Results Totally 291 subjects were included ,among whom 97 subjects were older patients and 194 subjects were young and middle-aged patients .Male was predominate in both groups ,which accounted for 91 .8％ and 87 .6％ ,respectively .The CD4+ T lymphocyte count in the older group before treatment was (151 .9 ±96 .2) cells /μL ,which was significantly lower than that in the young and middle-aged group (183 .4 ± 93 . 5) cells/μL (t= 2 .657 , P=0 .009) .At month 12 of treatment ,the CD4+ T lymphocyte count in the older group was significantly lower than that in the young and middle-aged groups (t= 2 .120 , P=0 .035) ,while there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at month 24 (t=1 .025 ,P=0 .299) .The percentage of CD4+ T lymphocyte count increasing to 500 cells/μL in the older and youth groups during follow-up were 11 .3％ and 16 .0％ ,respectively (χ2=1 .127 ,P =0 .376) .Log-rank analysis showed that the mean times of virus inhibition in older group and young and middle-aged group were 7 .9 (95％ CI6 .8-8 .5) and 7 .6 (95％ CI6 .5 -9 .3) ,respectively ,with no statistically significant difference (χ2 =0 .002 , P=0 .961) .Virological failure was reported in 4 patients (4 .1％ ) in older group and 11 patients (5 .7％ ) in young and middle-aged group . Chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 0 .15 , P= 0 .78) .During follow-up , 19 .6％ (19/97) in older group and 3 .6％ (7/194) in young and middle-aged group died .The former was significantly higher than the latter (χ2 = 21 .113 , P< 0 .01 ) .Conclusions Older patients show a poor immunologic response ,similar viral suppression and higher risk of mortality compared with young and middle-aged patients . Future research should be aimed at the feasible and specific strategy for early diagnosis and timely treatment for older patients to improve treatment efficacy and reduce mortality .