Abstract:
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Haematological abnormalities such as
anaemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia are common
complications of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
infection. Few researchers have studied the changes in HIV
positive patients before and during antiretroviral therapy (ART)
in Ghana. This study is aimed at determining the
haematological profile of people living with HIV (PLHIV) at
baseline and whilst on ART in a tertiary facility in Cape Coast,
Ghana.
METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with a
retrospective component among PLHIV assessing ART services
at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Full blood count
(FBC) test was performed on blood samples and the results were
analyzed and categorized based on WHO definitions.
RESULTS: A total of 440 participants were included. The mean
haemoglobin level (g/dL) for females at baseline, 6 months after
ART and during this study were 9.6 (±1.8), 10.9 (±1.4) and 11.6
(±1.4); and 10.2 (±2.1), 11.6 (±1.7) and 11.8 (±1.6) for males. At
baseline, the commonest type of anaemia for both females and
males was microcytic hypochromic anaemia. The mean platelet
count was 382 x 109/l at baseline but reduced to 298 x 109/L after
6 months on ART. Among male participants in this study, the
main factor associated with being anaemic after 6 months on
ART was the ART regimen with non-Zidovudine based regimen,
having reduced odds of anaemia of OR 0.3 (95%CI 0.1 – 0.9), pvalue
of 0.04. Among females, having plasma viral load >1000
copies per ml was found to have increased odds of being anaemic
(OR 1.4, 95%CI 0.7 – 2.6), though not statistically significant
(P-value of 0.32).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anaemia, though improved
on ART, was high among PLHIV. It is essential to ensure that
full blood count of PLHIV in Ghana are done regularly, at all
levels of service provision, with appropriate referral systems in
place. The change to the current TDF based preferred first line
ART regimen must also be enforced to reduce the potential
risks associated with AZT use. This will improve outcome for
PLHIV. WAJM 2020; 37(1): 40–47
