Changing mortality risk associated with CD4 cell response to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

Abstract

Updated CD4 cell counts are the variable most strongly associated with mortality risk during ART. High cumicrolative mortality risk is associated with person-time accrued at low CD4 cell counts. National HIV programmes in resource-limited settings should be designed to minimize the time patients spend with CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/microl both before and during ART.