Magnitude and associated factors of anemia among AZT based HAART experienced adult HIV patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2019: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background Anemia is the most common hematologic abnormalities in AIDS patients usually associated with disease progression and poor clinical outcomes. Zidovudine (AZT), which is one of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug families of the first line antiretroviral therapy regimen for HIV/AIDS patients, causes anemia due to early long-term of higher-dose therapy. This study was aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of anemia among AZT containing HAART experienced adult HIV/ADIS patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, northwest, Ethiopia, 2019. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted among a total of 320 adult AZT based HAART experienced HIV/AIDS patients from January 2016 to December 2018. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the patients’ charts. All required data for this study were extracted from patients’ medical charts. Data were coded, cleared and entered into Epi Info version 3.5.3, and transformed to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify associated factors of anemia and P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significance. Results A total of 320 adult AZT based HAART experienced HIV/AIDS patients’ charts were assessed. Of the total patients, 198 (61.9%) were females and 133 (41.6%) were within the age range of 35–45 years. More than half, 237(76.9%) of the patients were from the urban area and 186 (58.1%) were on WHO clinical stage III at the baseline. The prevalence of anemia was 50% (95% CI 44.7–55.0%), 44.1% (95% CI 38.4–50.0%), 35.6% (95% CI 30.3–40.6%), 40% (95% CI 34.4–45.6%), 40.6% (95% CI 35.0–46.3) and 39.1% (95% CI 33.4–44.1%) at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months and 30 months of follow-up period, respectively. The overall prevalence of anemia was 41.6%. Anemia had significant association with WHO clinical stage and base line Hgb values. Conclusions A significant number of participants were anemic in this study. WHO clinical stage and baseline Hgb value were the contributing factors for anemia among these patients. Therefore, anemia needs an immediate intervention on associated factor to improve the anemic status and living condition of HIV patient.

Anemia is independently associated with mortality in people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome: A propensity score matching-based retrospective cohort study in China

“…Previous studies have reported that HIV infection-related health impairments, including opportunistic infections, tumors, and malnutrition will not only reduce the quality of life of PLWHA but are also be affected by factors such as sex, age, economic status, marital status, educational level, CD4 + T cell count, and viral load ( 19 – 21 ). Available evidence reveals that anemia is quite common in PLWHA and is significantly associated with an increased risk of premature death ( 22 ). Therefore, the actual effect of anemia on the risk of death from PLWHA should be comprehensively assessed.…”

A study of the top-cited studies on drug therapy for HIV

“…In order to control this disease, it was very important to diagnose the disease early, start the treatment early, and keep the treatment persistence of the virus load suppressed ( Shahriar et al, 2021 ; Annor et al, 2022 ). Free highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was very important ( Bani et al, 2020 ; Gopalakrishnan et al, 2020 ; Mai et al, 2020 ; Getaneh et al, 2021 ). The introduction of HAART effectively reduced the burden of HIV ( Bani et al, 2020 ; Getaneh et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Free highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was very important ( Bani et al, 2020 ; Gopalakrishnan et al, 2020 ; Mai et al, 2020 ; Getaneh et al, 2021 ). The introduction of HAART effectively reduced the burden of HIV ( Bani et al, 2020 ; Getaneh et al, 2021 ). The outcome of drug therapy for HIV mainly depended on the application of antiretroviral drugs ( Mayer et al, 2022 ).…”

Long-Term Zidovudine Therapy and Whether It is a Trigger of Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A Case Study of Megaloblastic Anemia at the University of Zambia Teaching Hospital

“…However, the adverse mitochondrial toxicity of zidovudine favors the use of abacavir or tenofovir alafenamide. Zidovudine-induced bone marrow toxicity is common in patients with advanced disease and is related to early long-term high-dose therapy [19]. Generally, stavudine is associated with significant toxicity and increases the risk of macrocytosis, limiting its use in clinical practice [10].…”