Figure 2.

Severe immunodeficiency at the start of cART by age, sex and country income groups (colours)

Severe immunodeficiency was defined according to WHO as CD4% <25% (age <12 months), <20% (12 to 35 months), <15% (36 to 59 months) and CD4 count <200 cells/μL or CD4% <15% (≥5 years). Results from generalized additive mixed effects models based on 52,153 children after imputation of missing data. 95% CIs are shown as shaded areas. Vertical lines indicate the changes in WHO guidelines on when to start cART. Age groups are shown along the right edge. Note that no data available for the analysis for 2003 in LMIC and after 2012 for HIC; hence, the periods shown on the graph differ slightly by country income group. cART, combination antiretroviral therapy; WHO, World Health Organization; LMIC, lower middle‐income country; HIC, high‐income country.