Objective. To identify predictors of mortality in patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Durban, South Africa.
Design. We conducted a retrospective cohort study analysing data on patients who presented to McCord Hospital, Durban, and started ART between 1 January 1999 and 29 February 2004. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis and
constructed Kaplan-Meier curves to assess predictors.
Results. Three hundred and nine patients were included. Forty-nine (16%) had died by the conclusion of the study. In univariate analysis, the strongest predictors of mortality
were a CD4 cell count