Prevalence and associated factors of cytopenia among people living with human immunodeficiency virus at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Cytopenia among human immunodeficiency virus infected patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70215/hajhbs.v2i1.106Keywords:
Cytopenia, Human immunodeficiency virus, Hematological diseases, Anti-retroviral therapyAbstract
Background: Hematological abnormalities are associated with increased risk of disease progression and death in people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, distribution and risk factors of cytopenia in people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are on anti-retrovirus treatment (ART) are not well investigated. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of cytopenia among PLHIV and on ART at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2021among 387 PLHIV. The associated factors of cytopenia at baseline and at six months were analyzed using an ordinal regression model, and cross tabulation after at least 6 months of ART in SPHMMC.
Results: The prevalence of cytopenia was 42.8% among PLHIV. There was a significant increase in the mean values of CD4 count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (HGB), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and platelets (PLT) while there was a decrease in red blood cell distribution width (RDW) after at least six months on ART compared with the baseline. There was also significant decrease in the prevalence of anemia and thrombocytopenia after at least on ART for six months compared to the baseline. CD4 cell count < 200 cells/μL (AOR = 4.8,95% CI (1.2–18.8), p = 0.023), being female (AOR = 6.7,95% CI (1.3–34.4), p = 0.022, co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI (1.5–15.9) p = 0.010), BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (AOR = 5.9 95% CI(3.0–11.5), p < 0.001) and absence of opportunistic infections (AOR = 0.65 (0.45–0.93), p = 0.019) were significantly associated with cytopenia after six months on antiretroviral.
Conclusion: The prevalence of cytopenia is significantly high at the baseline of the study. Early detection could decrease the prevalence of cytopenia among PLHIV. Monitoring of hematological parameters among PLHIV and on ART is vital to reduce cytopenia.
