Trends in antiretroviral treatment for people with HIV in Australia: an observational database pilot study

There have recently been major improvements in antiretroviral treatments available for people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The objective of this study was to assess the uptake of antiretroviral treatment in Australia among patients with HIV under medical care. Demographic and antiretroviral treatment data from 1073 patients with HIV attending three sites in 1997, two general practices and one hospital outpatient department, were downloaded and combined into a single database. The uptake of, and factors associated with, antiretroviral treatment were analysed. Time trends in the uptake of treatments since 1994 were assessed by comparing this pilot study with two previous similar studies. In 1997, 71 per cent of patients were receiving antiretroviral treatment, 84 per cent of whom were receiving triple combination therapy generally including a protease inhibitor. More aggressive antiretroviral treatment was associated with a more advanced stage of HIV disease and with HIV infection through male homosexual contact. The overall proportion of patients receiving antiretroviral treatments has increased from 46 per cent in 1994 and 45 per cent in 1995 to 71 per cent in this 1997 study. Uptake of antiretroviral treatments has increased in Australia with the availability of more effective combination therapies.