Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naive adults with HIV infection at the first specialist appointment.

Background: Fast initiation of ART has been associated with higher rates of retention in HIV care and viral suppression at 48 weeks and with lower mortality rates. However, scarce evidence exists in our setting, where diagnosis and treatment are carried out in different contexts.

Methods: An observational retrospective study evaluating efficacy and safety of ART prescribed at the first specialist appointment, without baseline laboratory data, in a tertiary hospital in downtown Madrid.