A Retrospective Study on Virological Recovery Patterns and Factors Associated with HIV Viral Treatment Using Highly Active Anti-Retro viral Therapy in Public Health Facilities in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Viral load monitoring is crucial for identifying treatment failure in HIV/AIDS patients, as low viremia is essential for public health as HIV cannot spread undetectable. This study aimed to assess the sustained virological recovery rate and potential factors affecting HIV patients in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, receiving combination treatment. Methods HIV patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) were the subject of a retrospective investigation. Using a standardized checklist, data was taken from the Tigray Health Bureau database and aligned with data from the Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI). SPSS version 25.0 was used to analyze the data. The correlations between each factor and the categorical outcome variables were evaluated using Pearson's χ2. In order to determine the determinants impacting virological recovery, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Significant relationship levels were established at p < 0.05. Results 7689 HIV patients with a mean age of 43 ± 13 years were recruited on HAART with female predominance 64.4% with 95% CI: 58.3–76.3. At enrollment to ART sizable portion of the research participants 43.7% and 38% were in the productive age ranges of 16–30 and 31–45 years old respectively. The overall virological recovery was 90.9% with significant variations among male and female participants 4.24 (2.97–6.03) with (P < 0.001). Predictors for persistent virological recovery were identified based on baseline viral load, baseline CD4 count, current and baseline age, lost to follow-ups, adherence, and WHO clinical presentations. Conclusion Male participants showed less recovery, with high baseline CD4 count, long therapy stays, and suppressed viral load being key predictors. Regular assessment of treatment response patterns and drug list combinations is crucial for HIV virological recovery. Early enrollment in HAART, tailored interventions, baseline viral load monitoring, longitudinal studies, and gene sequencing are crucial for virological recovery and identifying genetic factors contributing to treatment resistance.