One year survival of HIV-infected veterans with CD4 100 cells/mm3: data from a veteran cohort.

Abstract Survival among HIV-infected patients markedly improved with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Easier to take and more effective HAART options have improved the one-year virologic success rate among naive patients. Numerous studies have shown that initiating HAART and restoration of CD4 cells positively impact survival. There are only a few evaluations that have been carried out on the changes in survival among patients who are severely immunosuppressed. We evaluated survival among a cohort of veterans with CD4<100 cells/mm3 (CD4 < 100) in three time periods reflecting early, mid, and recent HAART. Using the HIV clinic database, all patients with CD4 < 100 seen between 1996 and 2004 were identified (n=394). Patients entered Cohorts 1 (n=219), 2 (n=72), and 3 (n=103) in 1996–1998, 1999–2001, and 2002–2004, respectively. Data on demographics, AIDS-defining illnesses, co-morbidities, treatment, CD4, and viral load (VL) were abstracted. Survival analysis controlling for...