Clinical cohort study: HOPS data

Early, aggressive intervention with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been associated with reduced morbidity and mortality rates among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. To better characterize HAART outcomes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sponsored the HIV outpatient study (HOPS), a prospective observational cohort study of more than 5000 HIV patients who were receiving HAART. Clinical analyses were included to determine morbidity and mortality results and correlates of treatment response. AIDS-associated morbidity and mortality rates remained low among patients receiving HAART regimens, prominently those using protease inhibitors. Reduced viral load and increased CD4 T lymphocyte counts were associated with fewer clinical events and greater intensity of antiretroviral therapy.