Table 1 The participants’ characteristics at ART initiation

Age (years), median (IQR)

32.0 (27.4–37.6)

Males, N (%)

1791 (67.5)

BMI (kg/m²), median (IQR)

21.7 (19.7- 24)

CDC classification C, N (%)

326 (12.3)

CD4 cell count (cells/mm³), median (IQR)

264 (167–379)

HIV-RNA (log_10, copies/ml), median (IQR)

4.5 (3.9–5)

Current smokers, N (%)

354 (20.2)

Currently using alcohol, N (%)

291 (14.6)

History of substance use, N (%)

111 (6.6)

Diabetes Mellitus, N (%)

140 (5.3)

Hypertension, N (%)

364 (13.7)

Hepatitis B co-infection, N (%)

368 (13.9)

Hepatitis C co-infection, N (%)

253 (9.5)