HAART treatment with free provided medications for people living with HIV in Huzhou, China

Background

For antiretroviral therapy (ART), drug combinations have been freely provided to people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) for treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)in China. We have systematically analyzed the treatment results in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Methods

Total 724 patients with HIV antibody positive from May 2005 to March 2023 at the age of 40.4±15.4 (15-82) years were treated with free provided drug combinations, including lamivudine (3TC), efavirenz (EFV) and tenofovir (TDF), or drugs at patient's own expense, includingbictegravir (BIC), emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). CD4+ T-cell count and viral load (VL) were detected before and after HAART treatment.

Results

Before and after HAART treatment, CD4+ T-cell count and viral load (VL) were measured. CD4+ T-cell count in 724 PLWH was from 269.2±178.9 to 453.8±243.3 cells/µl (p=0.0001), with 627(86.60%) cases increasing (221.0±204.6 cells/µl), 63(8.70%) decreasing (-96.0±84.1 cells/µl), 54(7.46%) cases no change. At the end of the treatment, 251(34.67%) cases were with CD4+ T-cell count>500.Viral load (VL)in 243 PLWHwas 14,474.4±62769.4 vs. 1,100.3±8513.1 copies/ml (p=0.0011), and with 181(74.49%) cases decreasing (-18,365.3±71,761.1 copies/ml), 14(5.76%) increasing (5,302.3±11,766.8 copies/ml), and 48 (19.75%) no change. Twenty-six patients died during the treatment period. There were no significant differences between results using free provided and paid drug combinations.

Conclusion

The free provided drug combinations increase CD4+ T-cell count and decrease viral load in PLWH, but about one-fourth of patients are considered as treatment failure. The improvement is needed for the HAART treatment.