Application of Aalen’s additive regression model and the Cox proportional hazards to model HIV/AIDS progression

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Over thirty-nine million individuals globally are living with HIV, and has claimed millions of lives globally over the past decades. The study's aims to determine variables associated HIV/AIDS progression in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy. The research employed a cohort analysis of surveillance data from the HIV Wellness Clinic in the province of Limpopo, South Africa, for 318 HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study uses Aalen's additive regression (AAR) and Cox regression (CR) models in comparison. HIV/AIDS progression for patients receiving treatment therapy has a significant association with CD4 baseline, gender, age, and development of tuberculosis during treatment, according to results from AAR and CR models. With a very modest p value &lt; 0.01, both models demonstrate that the CD4 baseline is highly significant when compared to the other factors in the models. Compared to female patients, male patients experience higher rates of immune system degradation. Compared to individuals with baseline CD4 counts over 350 cells/mm³, patients with baseline CD4 counts below 350 cells/mm³ have higher rates of immunological recovery. This study has reinforced the need for early detection of TB in people living with HIV so that these two diseases are concurrently managed for the benefit of the infected individual.