Effect of Macrolide Prophylactic Therapy on AIDS-Defining Conditions and HIV-Related Mortality

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium avium–intracelllulare complex (MAC) prophylaxis is recommended for patients with CD4 counts of < 50 cells/mm(3). With the significant decrease in incidence of disseminated MAC infection and the effective immune recovery due to the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), the benefits of giving MAC prophylaxis were investigated. This study examined the impact of macrolide prophylaxis on AIDS-defining conditions and HIV-associated mortality in a cohort of HIV-infected patients on ART. METHODS: TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) patients aged ≥18 years with a CD4 count < 50 cells/mm(3) at ART initiation were included. The effect of macrolide prohylaxis on HIV-associated mortality or an AIDS event (as a combined outcome) and HIV-associated mortality alone were evaluated using competing risk regression. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess whether results were consistent in patients with a CD4 < 100 cells/mm(3) at ART initiation. RESULTS: Of 1,345 eligible patients (78% male with median age at ART initiation of 34.8 years), 10.6% received macrolide prophylaxis. The rates of the combined outcome and HIV-associated mortality per 100 patient years were 7.35 [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.04–8.95] and 3.14 (95% CI: 2.35–4.19), respectively. After adjusting for possible confounders, macrolide use was associated with a significantly decreased risk of HIV-associated mortality (HR 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01–0.80, P = 0.031) but not the combined outcome (HR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.32–2.229, P = 0.764). Sensitivity analyses showed that, among patients with a CD4 < 100 cells/ mm(3) at ART initiation, these results were consistent. CONCLUSION: Macrolide prophylaxis is associated with significantly improved survival among Asian HIV-infected patients with very low CD4 cell counts. The benefits of giving macrolide prophylaxis remain despite the availability of effective ART. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.