Estimation of time of HIV seroconversion using a modified CD4 depletion model.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Estimation of time of HIV seroconversion using a modified CD4 depletion model.
Authors: Viviane D Lima, Lu Wang, Paul Sereda, Taylor McLinden, Rolando Barrios, Julio S G Montaner
Source: PLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 2, p e0246135 (2021)
Publisher Information: Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: IntroductionSeveral methods have been proposed to estimate the time of HIV seroconversion, including those based on CD4 cell depletion models. However, previous models have failed to consider the heterogeneity that exists in CD4 trajectories among different sub-populations. Our objective was to estimate the time from HIV seroconversion relative to the HIV diagnosis date in a population-based cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) in the province of British Columbia, Canada.MethodsWe used linked administrative and clinical data from the British Columbia Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) cohort, which contains longitudinal individual-level data on all PLWH ever diagnosed in the province. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with HIV between 1989 and 2013. The outcome was pre-antiretroviral treatment CD4 cell count measurements assessed every six months. Models were stratified by age and stage of HIV infection at diagnosis. Several explanatory variables were considered including longitudinal viral load measurements. Longitudinal CD4, square root transformed, was modeled via a non-linear mixed effects model; time was modeled using an exponential decay function. We assumed a Gaussian distribution (identity link), an AR(1) correlation structure, and a random intercept and slope for the longitudinal viral load measurements. Due to the population variation in CD4 count among uninfected individuals, we assumed 500 to 1500 cells/mm3 as the normal range when estimating the time of HIV seroconversion.ResultsLongitudinal data on 1,253 individuals were analysed: 80% male, 33% White, and the median age at diagnosis was 38 years (25th-75th percentile [Q1-Q3], 31 to 45). CD4 decay differed by stage of infection at diagnosis and age, with those ≥50 years in Stages 1 and 2 experiencing a faster decline in CD4 over time. The median duration of infection from seroconversion until HIV diagnosis was 6.9 (Q1-Q3, 3.9 to 10.1) years.ConclusionsConsidering the heterogeneity that exists in individual CD4 cell trajectories in a population, we presented a methodology that only relies on routinely collected HIV-related data, which can be further extended to estimate other epidemic measures.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1932-6203
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246135
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/2872c696626a4c34b3fcf6e9df389dfa
Accession Number: edsdoj.2872c696626a4c34b3fcf6e9df389dfa
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:19326203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0246135
Published in:PLoS ONE
Language:English