Prevalence and predictors of anemia among adult HIV infected patients at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the leading hematologic complication of HIV infection occurring in approximately 30% of patients with an asymptomatic infection and in as many as 75–80% of those with AIDS. Anemia increases morbidity and mortality among HIV infected patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia in adult HIV infected patients and the associated factors. METHOD: Retrospective record review was conducted for a total of 404 HIV infected adult patients who were started on HAART from January 2010 up to September 2015 at the University of Gondar Hospital adult ART clinic. Descriptive analysis, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to compute the different rates, proportions, and associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 32.9%, 14.4%, and 9.4% at baseline, after 6 and 12 months of HAART. Lower CD4 count (AOR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.2) and opportunistic infections (AOR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.8–5.0) were associated with the odds of being anemic at baseline. Baseline anemia was a predictor for being anemic after 6 months (AOR=3.6; 95% CI: 2.0–6.7). Similarly, being anemic after 6 months of HAART predicted the odds of being anemic after 12 months on HAART (AOR=9.1; 95% CI: 4.1–19.9). Zidovudine based regimen was also found to be a predictor of anemia at three months after HAART (AOR=6.0; 95% CI: 2.5–14.3). CONCLUSION: Anemia is a common problem in HIV patients at the University of Gondar Hospital, nearly a third of the HIV patients had anemia. A lower CD4 count and opportunistic infection were predictors of being anemic. Anemia during the early periods of HAART initiation was also a predictor of subsequent anemia in HIV patients.