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No change in viral set point or CD 4 cell decline among antiretroviral treatment‐naïve, HIV ‐1‐infected individuals enrolled in the D anish HIV C ohort S tudy in 1995–2010
Author(s) -
Helleberg M,
Kronborg G,
Larsen CS,
Pedersen G,
Pedersen C,
Obel N,
Gerstoft J
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
hiv medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.53
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1468-1293
pISSN - 1464-2662
DOI - 10.1111/hiv.12016
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunology , virology
Objectives Recent studies have reported faster progression of HIV infection than anticipated based on results from earlier studies. The aim of the present study was to examine if the virulence of HIV ‐1 infection changed in the period 1995–2010 among chronically HIV ‐infected individuals in D enmark. Methods We included all patients registered in the D anish HIV C ohort S tudy, who were diagnosed in 1995–2009, had a CD 4 count > 100 cells/μL at diagnosis and had at least two CD 4 measurements prior to initiation of antiretroviral therapy ( ART ). Changes in viral set point and rate of CD 4 cell decline from enrolment until the initiation of ART by calendar year of HIV diagnosis were analysed. Time to first CD 4 count < 350 cells/μL was compared among patients diagnosed in 1995–2000, 2001–2005 and 2006–2010. Results We followed 1469 HIV ‐infected patients for a total of 5783 person‐years. The median viral set point was 4.27 log 10 HIV ‐1 RNA copies/mL [interquartile range ( IQR ) 3.58–4.73 log 10 copies/mL]. The median CD 4 cell decline per year was 57 cells/μL ( IQR 10–139 cells/μL). In analyses adjusted for age, gender, origin, route of transmission and CD 4 count at diagnosis, there were no associations between year of diagnosis and viral set point or CD 4 cell decline. Time to first CD 4 count < 350 cells/μL did not change in the study period [incidence rate ratio ( IRR ) 0.90 (95% confidence interval ( CI ) 0.76–1.06) for 2001–2005 and 1.09 (95% CI 0.79–1.34) for 2006–2010 compared with 1995–2000]. Conclusions We found no evidence of changing trends in viral set point, CD 4 cell decline or time to CD 4 count < 350 cells/μL during the period 1995–2010 in a cohort of chronically HIV ‐infected individuals.