Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health and developmental emergency, as they cause premature deaths, exacerbate poverty and threaten national economies. In 2008, they were the top killers in the South-East Asia region, causing 7.9 million deaths; the number of deaths is expected to increase by 21% over the next decade.

The authors aimed to analyse treatment outcomes of patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the national AIDS control programme of India.