Christopher T Andersen1, Christopher P Duggan2,3,4, Karim Manji5, George R Seage1, Donna Spiegelman6, Nandita Perumal3, Nzovu Ulenga7, Wafaie W Fawzi1,3,4. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 6. Departments of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. 7. Management and Development for Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anaemia is common among HIV-infected children and iron supplementation is prescribed routinely for the prevention and management of anaemia among children. Limited evidence suggests iron supplementation may have adverse effects among HIV-infected populations. We aimed to estimate the effect of iron supplement use on mortality, disease progression and haematological outcomes among HIV-infected children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected children (aged 0-14 years) receiving antiretroviral treatment or supportive care between October 2004 and September 2014. Clinical data were recorded on morbidity and vital status, haematological status and prescriptions at each clinical visit. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for time-varying covariates were used to estimate the association of time-varying iron supplementation on the hazard rate of mortality, HIV disease stage progression, tuberculosis incidence and anaemia and microcytosis persistence. RESULTS: In all, 4229 children were observed during 149 260 clinic visits for a mean follow-up of 2.9 years. After adjustment for time-varying clinical covariates, time-varying iron supplementation was associated with a 2.87 times higher hazard rate of mortality (95% CI: 1.70, 4.87) and a 1.48 times higher hazard rate of HIV disease stage progression (95% CI: 1.10, 1.98). Iron supplementation was also associated with a lower rate of anaemia persistence (HR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.61). No differences in the association between iron supplementation and clinical outcomes were observed by antiretroviral therapy or anaemia status. CONCLUSIONS: Iron supplementation may increase the risk of HIV disease stage progression and mortality among HIV-infected children, while reducing the risk of anaemia.
BACKGROUND: Anaemia is common among HIV-infected children and iron supplementation is prescribed routinely for the prevention and management of anaemia among children. Limited evidence suggests iron supplementation may have adverse effects among HIV-infected populations. We aimed to estimate the effect of iron supplement use on mortality, disease progression and haematological outcomes among HIV-infected children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected children (aged 0-14 years) receiving antiretroviral treatment or supportive care between October 2004 and September 2014. Clinical data were recorded on morbidity and vital status, haematological status and prescriptions at each clinical visit. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for time-varying covariates were used to estimate the association of time-varying iron supplementation on the hazard rate of mortality, HIV disease stage progression, tuberculosis incidence and anaemia and microcytosis persistence. RESULTS: In all, 4229 children were observed during 149 260 clinic visits for a mean follow-up of 2.9 years. After adjustment for time-varying clinical covariates, time-varying iron supplementation was associated with a 2.87 times higher hazard rate of mortality (95% CI: 1.70, 4.87) and a 1.48 times higher hazard rate of HIV disease stage progression (95% CI: 1.10, 1.98). Iron supplementation was also associated with a lower rate of anaemia persistence (HR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.61). No differences in the association between iron supplementation and clinical outcomes were observed by antiretroviral therapy or anaemia status. CONCLUSIONS: Iron supplementation may increase the risk of HIV disease stage progression and mortality among HIV-infected children, while reducing the risk of anaemia.
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