Disease progression and survival in HIV-1-infected Africans in London

Abstract

Differences in progression to AIDS and death and CD4+ lymphocyte decline between HIV-1-infected Africans and non-Africans in London could not be attributed to ethnicity or different viral subtypes. Age and the clinical and immunological stage at presentation, or AIDS, were the major determinants of outcome. Compared with other diagnoses, tuberculosis as the initial ADC was associated with increased survival. Lack of access to health care and exposure to environmental pathogens are the most likely causes of reduced survival with AIDS in Africa, rather than inherently different rates of progression of immune deficiency due to racial differences or viral subtypes.