Impact of Same-Day ART Initiation on HIV Outcomes in Thailand
Author Information
Author(s): Teeraananchai Sirinya, Boettiger David C., Lertpiriyasuwat Cheewanan, Triamwichanon Rattaphon, Benjarattanaporn Patchara, Phanuphak Nittaya
Primary Institution: Kasetsart University
Hypothesis
How does the timing of ART initiation affect HIV treatment outcomes in Thailand?
Conclusion
Starting ART within 1 month significantly lowers the risk of virological failure and mortality.
Supporting Evidence
- ART initiation within 7 days increased from 20% in 2014–2016 to 32% in 2021–2022.
- Virological failure rates were lower for those starting ART within 1 month.
- Mortality rates decreased as the time to ART initiation shortened.
Takeaway
If people start their HIV treatment quickly, they do better and live longer. But many still wait too long to start.
Methodology
This study analyzed data from PLHIV aged ≥15 years who started ART between 2014 and 2022, categorizing them based on the time from diagnosis to ART initiation.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to using registration dates instead of actual diagnosis dates and missing socio-economic factors.
Limitations
The study relied on registration dates as surrogates for diagnosis dates, which may introduce bias, and lacked complete socio-demographic data.
Participant Demographics
Median age at ART initiation was 34 years, with 68% male and 23% from the Northeastern region.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3.07–3.159
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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