Effects of an HIV-Care-Program on immunological parameters in HIV-positive patients in Yaound,, Cameroon: a cluster-randomized trial

To measure the effects of an HIV-Care-Program, focusing on nutrition and lifestyle, which can be provided at scale to HIV-infected patients, on clinical and anthropometrical parameters, and health status. A cluster-randomized trial, including 5 health facilities randomized to intervention n = 100 (HIV-Care-Program) or control n = 101 (Usual-Care). The HIV-Care-Program consisted of counseling lessons for 6 months, on: nutrition, hygiene, coping with stigma and discrimination, embedded in practical activities. Outcome variables were CD4 count after 6 months and time to antiretroviral therapy (ARV) initiation, using analysis of covariance and Kaplan-Meier method, respectively. After 6 months, CD4 count dropped by 46.3 cells (7.7 %) (intervention) and 129 (23 %) (control) (p = 0.003). Mean time to ARV; 5.9 months 95 % CI (5.9, 6.0) (intervention); 4.9 months 95 % CI (4.7, 5.2) (control) (p < 0.004). There was a partial correlation between CD4 count and initial viral load (r = -0.190, p = 0.017). The intervention provides a low-cost alternative improving health status, slowing down CD4 cell decline, delaying initiation of ARV and thus freeing local ARV capacities for patients in urgent need.