CD4+ T lymphocyte responses to anti-retroviral therapy, among HIV/AIDS patients aged 18 and over / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the differences of CD4 +T lymphocyte (CD4) counts between patients aged 18 and over,to explore the effect of age on treatment,36 months after having received the China National Free AIDS Antiretroviral Treatment on HIV/AIDS.Methods Through the National ART Information Ssystem,we selected those HIV/AIDS patients who initiated the ART 36 months after the ART,between January 1,2010 and December 31,2012 in Guangzhou,Liuzhou and Kunming.Patients were divided into age groups as 18-49,50-59 and 60 or over year olds,at the baseline of treatment.Under different levels of baseline CD4 counts,we chose the baseline and different time-point of CD4 counts as dependent variables,applied mixed linear model to analyze the effects of age,viral suppression,gender,baseline CD4/CDs ratio and initial treatment regimen.Results A total of 5 331 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited.No differences were found on age group ratios between different levels of baseline CD4 counts.At the level of baseline CD4＜200 cells/μl,both the 50-59 and 60 or above years old groups had lower CD4 counts than the 18-49 year-old group,within 36 months after the initiation of ART.However,at the baseline CD4 level of 200-350 cells/μl,no signiftcant differences on CD4 counts between the 50-59 year-old and 18-49 year-old groups were noticed.CD4 counts seemed lower in the 60 and above year-old group than in the 18-49 year-old group.Conclusion Age might serve as an influencing factor on CD4 counts within 36 months after the initiation of ART,suggesting that earlier initiation of ART might be of help to the recovery of immune function in the 50-59 year-old group.