Objective To study the effects of TCM comprehensive intervention on the case fatality rate（CFR） of human immunodeficiency virus（ HIV）-infected persons in rural areas. Methods The HIV-infected persons in rural areas with a high incidence of HIV infection in Henan Province included in TCM treatment project in October2004 were selected as the TCM treatment group. The HIV-infected persons in neighboring rural areas not included in TCM treatment project were selected as the non-TCM treatment group. The relevant information was collected through Database of TCM Treatment for AIDS and AIDS Prevention and Control Information System. The CFR till October2012 in both groups were recorded. The factors affecting the CFR of HIV-infected persons were analyzed with Cox proportional hazards model. Results Totally 448 HIV-infected persons were included with 103 persons in the TCM treatment group and 345 persons in the non-TCM treatment group. There were 15 cases of AIDS-related deaths in the TCM treatment group

with a death density of 2. 12 per 100 person-years and a cumulative CFR of 14. 6%. There were 90 cases of AIDS-related deaths in the non-TCM treatment group

with a death density of 3. 94 per 100 personyears and a cumulative CFR of 26. 1%. There was a significant difference between groups in the cumulative CFR（P <0.05）. Univariate analysis showed that the risk of death in the non-TCM treatment group was 1.84 times as that in the TCM treatment group（P < 0. 05）. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk of death in the non-TCM treatment group was 1. 90 times as that in the TCM treatment group（P < 0. 05）. Furthermore

gender

age

marital status and time to start taking antiviral drugs were also the factors affecting the deaths of HIV-infected persons（ P < 0. 05）.Conclusion TCM comprehensive intervention may reduce CFR of HIV-infected persons but prospective studies need to be conducted to give an objective assessment.