Mortality rate for children with HIV decreased in the Netherlands

BRUSSELS — Undetectable HIV viral loads in children have increased over the years; however, there is a low mortality rate in the Netherlands compared with other industrialized countries, according to new data presented at EACS 2013.

“The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy was in 1996 and since that time we have seen a very dramatic decrease in AIDS-related mortality and morbidity,” Sophie Cohen, MD, of Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, said during a presentation. “Also in children, we saw an increase in comorbidities and some of them were associated with the therapy itself, which in children is especially important. They are especially susceptible to these problems because they are generally facing a lifelong exposure to combination therapy and are started on therapy while they are developing and growing.”

The study examined data from 1996 to 2010 from all pediatric HIV clinics in the Netherlands, 229 children with HIV were included. Most mothers (64%) and children (43%) were originally from sub-Saharan Africa.

Researchers found that the number of children with undetectable viral loads rose from 1996 to 2012. There was also a 0.3 per 100 person-years mortality rate.

“We had a very high percentage of undetectable viral loads on combination antiretroviral therapy as compared to other western European countries,” Cohen said during a presentation. “Our country is very small and we have a very good health care system. We do drug therapeutic monitoring in most children and make sure that children keep drug adherence and reward them for doing so.”

For more information:

Cohen S. Abstract #PS3/2. Presented at: 14th European AIDS Conference; Oct. 16-19, 2013; Brussels.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.