Association between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of comorbidities in Human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with virological suppression after antiretroviral treatment

Adriana C. Galeano, C. J. Rincón-Rodríguez, Fabián Gil, S. Valderrama-Beltrán

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The incidence of comorbidities is higher in HIV-positive patients than in the general population due to factors, such as HIV-related chronic inflammation. There is no consensus on whether a low CD4 lymphocyte count after virological suppression at long-term follow-up increases the risk of comorbidities. This study evaluates the association between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of comorbidities during the first 5 years of virological suppression after highly active antiretroviral treatment. Methods: We conducted a cohort study of HIV-positive adults who achieved virological suppression in an HIV program between 2002 and 2016 in Colombia. A generalized equation estimation model was used to estimate the association between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of comorbidities. Results: A follow-up period of at least 1 year was completed in 921 HIV-positive patients with virological suppression. We found 71 comorbidities during a maximum of 5 years of follow-up; 41 (59%) were AIDS-defining comorbidities and 19 (46%) of them occurred during the first semester. Thirty cases of non-AIDS- defining comorbidities were diagnosed. We did not find any association between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of comorbidities (OR 0.92, CI 95% 0.45 -1.91 for CD4 201-499 cells/µL vs CD4 ≤200 cells/µL, and OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.21-1.44 for CD4 ≥500 cells/µL vs CD4 ≤200 cells/µL). Conclusion: No association was found between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of AIDS-defining or non-AIDS-defining comorbidities in patients with virological suppression. Further studies are needed to assess the risk of comorbidities in this population to design interventions aimed at improving their prognosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)884-893
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of STD and AIDS
Volume35
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2024

Keywords

  • CD4 lymphocyte count
  • Colombia
  • HIV
  • highly active antiretroviral therapy
  • prognosis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Association between CD4 lymphocyte count and the incidence of comorbidities in Human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with virological suppression after antiretroviral treatment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this