We discovered a highly virulent variant of subtype-B HIV-1 in the Netherlands. One hundred nine individuals with this variant had a 0.54 to 0.74 log
increase (i.e., a ~3.5-fold to 5.5-fold increase) ...in viral load compared with, and exhibited CD4 cell decline twice as fast as, 6604 individuals with other subtype-B strains. Without treatment, advanced HIV-CD4 cell counts below 350 cells per cubic millimeter, with long-term clinical consequences-is expected to be reached, on average, 9 months after diagnosis for individuals in their thirties with this variant. Age, sex, suspected mode of transmission, and place of birth for the aforementioned 109 individuals were typical for HIV-positive people in the Netherlands, which suggests that the increased virulence is attributable to the viral strain. Genetic sequence analysis suggests that this variant arose in the 1990s from de novo mutation, not recombination, with increased transmissibility and an unfamiliar molecular mechanism of virulence.
Investigate trends over time and predictors of malignancies among children and young people with HIV.
Pooled data from 17 cohorts in 15 countries across Europe and Thailand.
Individuals diagnosed ...with HIV and presenting to paediatric care less than 18 years of age were included. Time at risk began at birth for children with documented vertically acquired HIV, and from first HIV-care visit for others. Children were followed until death, loss-to-follow-up, or last visit in paediatric or adult care (where data after transfer to adult care were available). Rates of reported malignancies were calculated overall and for AIDS-defining malignancies (ADM) and non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADM) separately. Risk factors for any malignancy were explored using Poisson regression, and for mortality following a malignancy diagnosis using Cox regression.
Among 9632 individuals included, 140 (1.5%) were ever diagnosed with a malignancy, of which 112 (80%) were ADM. Overall, the rate of any malignancy was 1.18 per 1000 person-years; the rate of ADM decreased over time whereas the rate of NADM increased. Male sex, being from a European cohort, vertically acquired HIV, current severe immunosuppression, current viral load greater than 400 copies/ml, older age, and, for those not on treatment, earlier calendar year, were risk factors for a malignancy diagnosis. Fifty-eight (41%) individuals with a malignancy died, a median 2.4 months (IQR 0.6-8.8) after malignancy diagnosis.
The rate of ADM has declined since widespread availability of combination ART, although of NADM, there was a small increase. Mortality following a malignancy was high, warranting further investigation.
OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to describe growth during puberty in young people with vertically acquired HIV.
DESIGN:Pooled data from 12 paediatric HIV cohorts in Europe and Thailand.
...METHODS:One thousand and ninety-four children initiating a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or boosted protease inhibitor based regimen aged 1–10 years were included. Super Imposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) models described growth from age 8 years using three parameters (average height, timing and shape of the growth spurt), dependent on age and height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (WHO references) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Multivariate regression explored characteristics associated with these three parameters.
RESULTS:At ART initiation, median age and HAZ was 6.4 interquartile range (IQR)2.8, 9.0 years and −1.2 (IQR−2.3 to −0.2), respectively. Median follow-up was 9.1 (IQR6.9, 11.4) years. In girls, older age and lower HAZ at ART initiation were independently associated with a growth spurt which occurred 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.20–0.62) years later in children starting ART age 6 to 10 years compared with 1 to 2 years and 1.50 (1.21–1.78) years later in those starting with HAZ less than −3 compared with HAZ at least −1. Later growth spurts in girls resulted in continued height growth into later adolescence. In boys starting ART with HAZ less than −1, growth spurts were later in children starting ART in the oldest age group, but for HAZ at least −1, there was no association with age. Girls and boys who initiated ART with HAZ at least −1 maintained a similar height to the WHO reference mean.
CONCLUSION:Stunting at ART initiation was associated with later growth spurts in girls. Children with HAZ at least −1 at ART initiation grew in height at the level expected in HIV negative children of a comparable age.
Data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European ...countries and Thailand.
Children aged <18 years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors NRTIs plus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor NNRTI or boosted protease inhibitor PI) were included. Switch to second-line was defined as (i) change across drug class (PI to NNRTI or vice versa) or within PI class plus change of ≥1 NRTI; (ii) change from single to dual PI; or (iii) addition of a new drug class. Cumulative incidence of switch was calculated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks.
Of 3668 children included, median age at ART initiation was 6.1 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.7-10.5) years. Initial regimens were 32% PI based, 34% nevirapine (NVP) based, and 33% efavirenz based. Median duration of follow-up was 5.4 (IQR, 2.9-8.3) years. Cumulative incidence of switch at 5 years was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20%-23%), with significant regional variations. Median time to switch was 30 (IQR, 16-58) months; two-thirds of switches were related to treatment failure. In multivariable analysis, older age, severe immunosuppression and higher viral load (VL) at ART start, and NVP-based initial regimens were associated with increased risk of switch.
One in 5 children switched to a second-line regimen by 5 years of ART, with two-thirds failure related. Advanced HIV, older age, and NVP-based regimens were associated with increased risk of switch.
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Background The Netherlands has provided unrestricted access to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) since November 2015. We analyzed the nationwide hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment uptake among patients ...coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV. Methods Data were obtained from the ATHENA HIV observational cohort in which >98% of HIV-infected patients ever registered since 1998 are included. Patients were included if they ever had 1 positive HCV RNA result, did not have spontaneous clearance, and were known to still be in care. Treatment uptake and outcome were assessed. When patients were treated more than once, data were included from only the most recent treatment episode. Data were updated until February 2017. In addition, each treatment center was queried in April 2017 for a data update on DAA treatment and achieved sustained virological response. Results Of 23574 HIV-infected patients ever linked to care, 1471 HCV-coinfected patients (69% men who have sex with men, 15% persons who formerly injected drugs, and 15% with another HIV transmission route) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 87% (1284 of 1471) had ever initiated HCV treatment between 2000 and 2017, 76% (1124 of 1471) had their HCV infection cured; DAA treatment results were pending in 6% (92 of 1471). Among men who have sex with men, 83% (844 of 1022) had their HCV infection cured, and DAA treatment results were pending in 6% (66 of 1022). Overall, 187 patients had never initiated treatment, DAAs had failed in 14, and a pegylated interferon-alfa–based regimen had failed in 54. Conclusions Fifteen months after unrestricted DAA availability the majority of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in the Netherlands have their HCV infection cured (76%) or are awaiting DAA treatment results (6%). This rapid treatment scale-up may contribute to future HCV elimination among these patients.
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BACKGROUND:HIV-infected individuals may be at risk for the premature onset of age-associated noncommunicable comorbidities. Being HIV-positive, having comorbidities and being of higher age may ...adversely impact health-related quality of life (HRQL). We investigated the possible contribution of HIV infection, comorbidities and age on HRQL and depression.
METHODS:HIV-infected individuals and uninfected controls from the AGEhIV Cohort Study were screened for the presence of comorbidities. They completed the Short Form 36-item Health Survey to assess HRQL and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression. Linear and logistic regression were used to investigate to which extent comorbidities, aging and HIV infection were independently associated with HRQL and depression.
RESULTS:HIV-infected individuals (n = 541) reported significantly worse physical and mental HRQL and had a higher prevalence of depression than HIV-uninfected individuals (n = 526). A higher number of comorbidities and HIV-positive status were each independently associated with worse physical HRQL, whereas HIV-positive status and younger age were independently associated with worse mental HRQL and more depression. The difference in physical HRQL between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals did not become greater with a higher number of comorbidities or with higher age.
CONCLUSION:In a cohort of largely well suppressed HIV-positive participants and HIV-negative controls, HIV-positive status was significantly and independently associated with worse physical and mental HRQL and with an increased likelihood of depression. Our finding that a higher number of comorbidities was independently associated with worse physical HRQL reinforces the importance to optimize prevention and management of comorbidities as the HIV-infected population continues to age.
Abstract Background Mortality among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) declined with the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy. We investigated trends in mortality in people ...with HIV from 1999 through 2020. Methods Data were collected from the Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) cohort between January 1999 through January 2015 and the International Cohort Consortium of Infectious Disease (RESPOND) from October 2017 through December 2020. Age-standardized all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates, classified using Coding Causes of Death in HIV, were calculated. Poisson models were used to assess mortality over time. Results Among 55 716 participants followed for median 6 years (interquartile range, 3–11), 5263 died (mortality rate MR, 13.7/1000 person-years of follow-up PYFU; 95% confidence interval CI, 13.4–14.1). Changing mortality was observed: AIDS mortality was most common between 1999–2009 (n = 952; MR, 4.2/1000 PYFU; 95% CI, 4.0–4.5) and non-AIDS–defining malignancy (NADM) between 2010–2020 (n = 444; MR, 2.8/1000 PYFU; 95% CI, 2.5–3.1). In multivariable analysis, all-cause mortality declined (adjusted mortality rate ratio aMRR, 0.97 per year; 95% CI, .96–.98), mostly 1999–2010 (aMRR, 0.96 per year; 95% CI, .95–.97) but was stable 2011–2020 (aMRR, 1.00 per year; 95% CI, .96–1.05). Mortality due to all known causes except NADM also declined. Conclusions Mortality among people with HIV in the D:A:D and/or RESPOND cohorts declined between 1999–2009 and was stable over the period 2010–2020. This decline in mortality was not fully explained by improvements in immunologic–virologic status or other risk factors.
Abstract
Background
High uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and related mortality; however, gaps in care exist. We aimed ...to construct the continuum of HIV care (CoC) in 2016 in 11 European Union (EU) countries, overall and by key population and sex. To estimate progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, we compared 2016 to 2013 estimates for the same countries, representing 73% of the population in the region.
Methods
A CoC with the following 4 stages was constructed: number of people living with HIV (PLHIV); proportion of PLHIV diagnosed; proportion of those diagnosed who ever initiated ART; and proportion of those ever treated who achieved viral suppression at their last visit.
Results
We estimated that 87% of PLHIV were diagnosed; 92% of those diagnosed had ever initiated ART; and 91% of those ever on ART, or 73% of all PLHIV, were virally suppressed. Corresponding figures for men having sex with men were: 86%, 93%, 93%, 74%; for people who inject drugs: 94%, 88%, 85%, 70%; and for heterosexuals: 86%, 92%, 91%, 72%. The proportion suppressed of all PLHIV ranged from 59% to 86% across countries.
Conclusions
The EU is close to the 90-90-90 target and achieved the UNAIDS target of 73% of all PLHIV virally suppressed, significant progress since 2013 when 60% of all PLHIV were virally suppressed. Strengthening of testing programs and treatment support, along with prevention interventions, are needed to achieve HIV epidemic control.
Standardized definitions were used to estimate a 4-stage continuum of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care in 11 European Union (EU) countries in 2016. The EU is close to the 90-90-90 target, with the main challenge being the percentage of undiagnosed infections.
HBV coinfection is common among people living with HIV (PLWH) and is the most important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While risk prediction tools for HCC have been validated in patients ...with HBV monoinfection, they have not been evaluated in PLWH. Thus, we performed an external validation of PAGE-B in people with HIV/HBV coinfection.
We included data on PLWH from four European cohorts who were positive for HBsAg and did not have HCC before starting tenofovir. We estimated the predictive performance of PAGE-B for HCC occurrence over 15 years in patients receiving tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy. Model discrimination was assessed after multiple imputation using Cox regression with the prognostic index as a covariate, and by calculating Harrell’s c-index. Calibration was assessed by comparing our cumulative incidence with the PAGE-B derivation study using Kaplan-Meier curves.
In total, 2,963 individuals with HIV/HBV coinfection on tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy were included. PAGE-B was <10 in 26.5%, 10–17 in 57.7%, and ≥18 in 15.7% of patients. Within a median follow-up of 9.6 years, HCC occurred in 68 individuals (2.58/1,000 patient-years, 95% CI 2.03–3.27). The regression slope of the prognostic index for developing HCC within 15 years was 0.93 (95% CI 0.61–1.25), and the pooled c-index was 0.77 (range 0.73–0.80), both indicating good model discrimination. The cumulative incidence of HCC was lower in our study compared to the derivation study. A PAGE-B cut-off of <10 had a negative predictive value of 99.4% for the development of HCC within 5 years. Restricting efforts to individuals with a PAGE-B of ≥10 would spare unnecessary HCC screening in 27% of individuals.
For individuals with HIV/HBV coinfection, PAGE-B is a valid tool to determine the need for HCC screening.
Chronic HBV infection is the most important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among people living with HIV. Valid risk prediction may enable better targeting of HCC screening efforts to high-risk individuals. We aimed to validate PAGE-B, a risk prediction tool that is based on age, sex, and platelets, in 2,963 individuals with HIV/HBV coinfection who received tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy. In the present study, PAGE-B showed good discrimination, adequate calibration, and a cut-off of <10 had a negative predictive value of 99.4% for the development of HCC within 5 years. These results indicate that PAGE-B is a simple and valid risk prediction tool to determine the need for HCC screening among people living with HIV and HBV.
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•This external validation study included 2,963 individuals with HIV/HBV coinfection from four European cohorts.•Within a median of 9.6 years, 68 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma (incidence rate 2.58/1,000 person-years).•Among individuals with HIV/HBV coinfection, PAGE-B (based on age, sex and platelets) showed good model discrimination.•A PAGE-B score <10 had a negative predictive value of 99.4% for the development of HCC within 5 years.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 cell count reduces risk for AIDS and non-AIDS-related events in asymptomatic, HIV-positive persons and is the standard of care. ...However, most HIV-positive persons initiate ART when their CD4 count decreases below 500 × 10
cells/L. Consequences of delayed ART on risk for non-AIDS-defining and AIDS-defining cancer, one of the most common reasons for death in HIV, are unclear.
To estimate the long-term risk difference for cancer with the immediate ART strategy.
Multinational prospective cohort study.
The D:A:D (Data collection on Adverse events of anti-HIV Drugs) study, which included HIV-positive persons from Europe, Australia, and the United States.
8318 HIV-positive persons with at least 1 measurement each of CD4 cell count and viral load while ART-naive (study period, 2006 to 2016).
The parametric g-formula was used, with adjustment for baseline and time-dependent confounders (CD4 cell count and viral load), to assess the 10-year risk for non-AIDS-defining and AIDS-defining cancer of immediate versus deferred (at CD4 counts <350 and <500 × 10
cells/L) ART initiation strategies.
During 64 021 person-years of follow-up, 231 cases of non-AIDS-defining cancer and 272 of AIDS-defining cancer occurred among HIV-positive persons with a median age of 36 years (interquartile range, 29 to 43 years). With immediate ART, the 10-year risk for non-AIDS-defining cancer was 2.97% (95% CI, 2.37% to 3.50%) and that for AIDS-defining cancer was 2.50% (CI, 2.37% to 3.38%). Compared with immediate ART initiation, the 10-year absolute risk differences when deferring ART to CD4 counts less than 500 × 10
cells/L and less than 350 × 10
cells/L were 0.12 percentage point (CI, -0.01 to 0.26 percentage point) and 0.29 percentage point (CI, -0.03 to 0.73 percentage point), respectively, for non-AIDS-defining cancer and 0.32 percentage point (CI, 0.21 to 0.44 percentage point) and 1.00 percentage point (CI, 0.67 to 1.44 percentage points), respectively, for AIDS-defining cancer.
Potential residual confounding due to observational study design.
In this young cohort, effects of immediate ART on 10-year risk for cancer were small, and further supportive data are needed for non-AIDS-defining cancer.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Oversight Committee.
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