Perinatally infected South African HIV-infected adolescents on antiretroviral therapy have lower lung function than uninfected adolescents. Prior lower respiratory tract infection or pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with lower lung function.

Background Despite increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), lung disease remains common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected (HIV+) adolescents. There is limited information on changes in lung function over time in perinatally HIV+ adolescents on HAART. The objective was to investigate the progression of spirometry findings over 2 years in HIV+ adolescents on HAART in a prospective cohort, the Cape Town Adolescent Antiretroviral Cohort (CTAAC). Methods HIV+ adolescents aged 9–14 years, with at least 6 months of HAART, and a comparator group of healthy HIV-uninfected (HIV–), age-matched controls were enrolled in CTAAC. Spirometry and bronchodilator testing were done at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Mixed-effect models were used to compute longitudinal changes in lung function. Results Five hundred fifteen HIV+ adolescents, mean age 12 (standard deviation [SD], 1.6) years, 50.4% male, and 110 HIV– adolescents, mean age 11.8 (SD, 1.8) years, 45.6% male, were tested at baseline; 477 (93%) HIV+ and 102 (93%) HIV– adolescents at 12 months; and 473 (92%) HIV+ and 97 (88%) HIV– adolescents at 24 months. Only 5.4% of the HIV+ adolescents had HIV viral load >10 000 copies/mL at baseline. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were lower in the HIV+ compared to the HIV– adolescents and tracked with no deterioration or catch-up over 2 years. Previous pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) was significantly associated with reduced FEV1 and FVC (P < .05 for both). Conclusions HIV+ adolescents had lower lung function over 2 years than HIV– adolescents. This study highlights the need for lung function surveillance and prevention of LRTIs and PTB in HIV+ adolescents.

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