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ABSTRACT: Background
The impact of low levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA (low-level viremia [LLV]) during combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on clinical outcomes is unclear. We explored the associations between LLV and all-cause mortality, AIDS, and serious non-AIDS events (SNAEs).Methods
We grouped individuals starting cART 1996-2017 (identified from the Swedish InfCare HIV register) as virologic suppression (VS; <50 copies/mL), LLV (repeated viral load, 50-999 copies/mL), and nonsuppressed viremia (NSV; ≥1000 copies/mL). Separately, LLV was subdivided into 50-199 and 200-999 copies/mL (reflecting different definitions of virologic failure). Proportional-hazard models (including sex, age, pre-ART CD4 count and viral load, country of birth, injection drug use, treatment experience and interruptions, and an interaction term between viremia and time) were fitted for the study outcomes.Results
A total of 6956 participants were followed for a median of 5.7 years. At the end of follow-up, 60% were categorized as VS, 9% as LLV, and 31% as NSV. Compared with VS, LLV was associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.6). This association was also observed for LLV 50-199 copies/mL (aHR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.8), but was not statistically significant for LLV 200-999 copies/mL (aHR, 2.1; 95% CI, .96-4.7). LLV 50-999 copies/mL was not linked to increased risk of AIDS or SNAEs, but in subanalysis, LLV 200-999 copies/mL was associated with SNAEs (aHR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6).Conclusions
In this population-based cohort, LLV during cART was associated with adverse clinical outcomes.
SUBMITTER: Elvstam O
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8204776 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature