Association of age at antiretroviral therapy initiation with CD4 + : CD8 + ratio recovery among virally suppressed people with HIV

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of age at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation with CD4 + : CD8 + T-cell ratio in virally suppressed people with HIV on long-term ART, and to characterize potential CD4 + : CD8 + ratio recovery in this population by age.

Design: A longitudinal study of people attending an HIV clinic at the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London, who initiated ART between 2001 and 2015, and achieved and maintained HIV-1 viral suppression (viral load <1,000 copies/ml). The association of age group at ART initiation with CD4 + : CD8 + ratio at 5 and 10 years was assessed.

Methods: Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between age at ART initiation and log CD4 + : CD8 + ratio, adjusting for demographic factors (gender/HIV transmission route, ethnicity), baseline CD4 + count and calendar year.

Results: The sample included 1859 people aged 20-78 (75% men, 56% white ethnicity). Overall, median CD4 + : CD8 + T-cell ratio increased from 0.24 at baseline to 0.77 at year 5 and 0.88 at year 10. Ratios increased among all age groups in unadjusted and adjusted models but increased less among older ages (baseline ages 60-69 and 70-79). Median ratios at year 5 were 0.85, 0.80, 0.72, 0.76, 0.6, and 0.44, respectively, among people aged 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79 years at baseline.

Conclusion: In a virally suppressed London population, age had a substantial impact on CD4 + : CD8 + ratio recovery, especially for those starting ART after age 60 years. Results may indicate the level of CD4 + : CD8 + ratio recovery possible in an HIV-positive, virally suppressed, aging population.

Fig. 1

Demographic characteristics of the sample at baseline, by age.

Fig. 2

CD4⁺ T-cell count, CD8⁺ T-cell count and CD4⁺ : CD8⁺ ratio recovery across the whole sample over 10 years on antiretroviral therapy.