Table II.
Characteristics of children at ART initiation (N=6 078)
| Year of ART start (%) | |
| ≤2003 | 321 (5.3) |
| 2004 | 1 076 (17.7) |
| 2005 | 1 809 (29.8) |
| 2006 | 1 707 (28.1) |
| ≥2007 | 1 165 (19.2) |
| Female (%) | 2 981 (49.1) |
| Age | |
| Median (IQR) age (mo.) | 42.7 (14.7 - 82.5) |
| Less than 18 mo. (%) | 1758 (28.9) |
| WHO stage (%) | |
| 1 | 263 (4.3) |
| 2 | 745 (12.3) |
| 3/4 | 3073 (50.1) |
| WHO stage unknown | 1 997 (32.9) |
| PMTCT exposure (%) (N=4 695)* | |
| Known exposed | 596 (12.7) |
| Known unexposed | 1764 (37.6) |
| Exposure status unknown | 2335 (49.7) |
| Primary caregiver (%) (N=4 045)† | |
| Mother | 2449 (60.5) |
| Father | 141 (3.5) |
| Grandmother | 204 (5.0) |
| Other family | 712 (17.6) |
| Other | 123 (3.0) |
| Institution | 225 (5.6) |
| Unknown | 191 (4.7) |
| Laboratory measurements | |
| Median (IQR) CD4% by age group (N=4 592) | |
| ≤11 mo. (N=1 045) | 16.4 (10.0 - 23.6) |
| 12 - 35 mo. (N=1 089) | 13.0 (9.0 - 18.1) |
| 36 - 59 mo. (N=712) | 12.0 (7.2 - 16.5) |
| ≥5 yrs (N=1 746) | 10.0 (4.7 - 15.0) |
| Median (IQR) CD4 absolute count (cells/μl) by age group (N=4 852) | |
| ≤11 mo. (N=1 062) | 642 (280 - 1 132) |
| 12 - 35 mo. (N=1 145) | 636 (345 - 1 014) |
| 36 - 59 mo. (N=750) | 437 (251 - 691) |
| ≥5 yrs (N=1 895) | 435 (81 - 241) |
| Severely immunosuppressed (%) (N=4 934)‡ | 4 024 (81.6) |
| Median (IQR) log viral load (N=4 063) | 5.36 (4.74 - 5.89) |
| Viral load >1million copies/ml (%) (N=4 063) | 850 (20.9) |
| Haemoglobin <8 g/dl (%) (N=1 803) | 220 (12.2) |
| Anthropometry§ | |
| z-scores | |
| Median (IQR) weight-for-age z-score (N=3 892) | −1.89 (−3.20 - −0.93) |
| Median (IQR) height-for-age z-score (N= 3 690) | −2.39 (−3.37 - −1.44) |
| Median (IQR) weight-for-height z-score (N=3 186) | −0.46 (−1.73 - 0.55) |
| Weight-for-age z-scores (N=3 892) | |
| −3 - −2 (%) | 747 (19.1) |
| <–3 (%) | 1 096 (28.2) |
| Height-for-age z-score (N=3 690) | |
| −3 - −2 (%) | 1 011 (27.4) |
| <−3 (%) | 1 242 (33.7) |
| Weight-for-height z-score (N=3 186) | |
| −3 - −2 (%) | 312 (9.8) |
| <−3 (%) | 365 (11.5) |
| Regimen (%) (N=5 484) | |
| Most common regimens | |
| d4T+3TC+efavirenz | 2 839 (51.8) |
| d4T+3TC+lopinavir/ritonavir¶ | 1 603 (29.2) |
| First NRTI | |
| d4T-based regimen | 4 856 (88.5) |
| Third drug | |
| Lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen∥ | 1 808 (33.0) |
| Ritonavir-based regimen | 191 (3.5) |
| Regimen not recorded | 594 |
Data only available for Rahima Moosa, Harriet Shezi, Khayelitsha and Red Cross.
Data only available for Rahima Moosa, Harriet Shezi and Red Cross; for Harriet Shezi caregiver information was collected at first visit – may be different from caregiver at ART start.
WHO criteria for severe immune suppression (CD4% <25 or CD4 count <1 500/μl if age ≤11months; CD4% <20 or CD4 count <750/μl if age between 12 and 35 months; CD4% <15 or CD4 count <350/μl if age between 36 and 59 months; CD4% <15 or CD4 count <200/μl if age ≥60 months.
Only calculated for children ≤120 months (N=5 535).
Includes 201 children with additional ritonavir boosting.
Includes 214 children with additional ritonavir boosting.