After excluding confounders, three variables remained significantly associated with death, including male sex (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.268 [1.032, 1.559]; P = 0.024), time from HIV/AIDS confirmation to ART initiation ≥ 6 months (HR = 1.962 [1.631, 2.360]; P < 0.001), and peak CD4 count: CD4 < 100 cells/μL (HR = 16.093 [12.041, 21.508]; P < 0.001), 100 cells/μL ≤ x < 200 cells/μL (HR = 7.904 [6.148, 10.160]; P < 0.001), 200 cells/μL ≤ x < 350 cells/μL (HR = 3.166 [2.519, 3.980); P < 0.001), 350 cells/μL ≤ x < 500 cells/μL (HR = 1.668 [1.291, 2.155]; P < 0.001). Here, CD4 is linked to AIDS.