113. Advanced HIV Disease Among Adults in the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS)

BACKGROUND: In the “test and treat” era, early ART may decrease the prevalence of advanced HIV disease (AHD), defined as having a CD4 cell count < 200 cells/µL or World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage III or IV disease. We assessed trends in AHD and ART coverage and describe factors associated with AHD among adults living with HIV (LWH) across four countries before and during the “test and treat” era. METHODS: The African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) is a prospective cohort enrolling adults at risk for HIV or LWH from 12 facilities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. Clinical history review and laboratory testing were performed at enrollment and every 6 months. Serum cryptococcal antigen screening (CrAg) was performed in a subset with CD4 < 200 at enrollment. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for factors associated with CD4 < 200. RESULTS: From January 2013–December 2019, 2934 adults LWH were enrolled (median age 38 years [interquartile range, 31–46 years], 41.5% men). Of 2903 with CD4 results at enrollment, 567 (19.5%) had CD4 < 200. Despite consistent increases in ART coverage since 2016, across all countries the prevalence of AHD did not decline below levels observed in 2013 until 2019. The prevalence of CD4 < 200 did not significantly decline from 11.9% (range 9.1–25.0%) in 2013 to 10.3% (range 0–16%) in 2019, p=0.7, while ART coverage increased from 74.7% (range 68.3–93.8%) in 2013 to 97.5% (range 86–100%) in 2019, p= < 0.01 (Figure 1). Factors associated with a higher risk of CD4 < 200 at enrollment were being enrolled in Tanzania, male sex, age >29 years, having a primary or some secondary education or above, and WHO stage II disease or higher. Factors associated with a lower risk of CD4 < 200 were >1 year since HIV diagnosis and being on ART for at least 6 months (Table 1). Among those with CD4 < 200 at enrollment, the most commonly reported comorbidities included HIV wasting syndrome (9.3%) and tuberculosis (TB) (2.3%); 19 (3.4%) of 564 adults screened were CrAg positive. Figure 1: Trends in Percentage of Participants with CD4 <200 and ART coverage at Study Enrollment by Country and Year [Image: see text] Table 1: Factors associated with CD4 <200 cells/mm3 at Study Enrollment [Image: see text] CONCLUSION: Despite the scale-up of ART in the era of “test and treat”, AHD prevalence has only recently trended downward. Continued efforts towards early HIV diagnosis and timely ART initiation are needed to reduce the risk for CD4< 200. Strategies to increase TB screening, prophylaxis, and treatment are essential to reduce morbidity. DISCLOSURES: All Authors: No reported disclosures