Baseline renal insufficiency and risk of death among HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy in Lusaka, Zambia

To examine the association between baseline renal insufficiency and mortality among adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in an urban African setting. Open cohort evaluation. We examined mortality according to baseline renal function among adults initiating ART in Lusaka, Zambia. Renal function was assessed by the Cockcroft-Gault method, the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, and serum creatinine. From April 2004 to September 2007, 25 779 individuals started ART with an available creatinine measurement at baseline. When creatinine clearance was calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault method, 8456 (33.5%) had renal insufficiency: 73.5% were mild (60-89 ml/min), 23.4% moderate (30-59 ml/min), and 3.1% severe (