Burden and Determinants of Severe Anemia among HIV-Infected Adults: Results from a Large Urban HIV Program in Tanzania, East Africa. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Makubi, Abel; Okuma, James; Spiegelman, Donna; Hawkins, Claudia; Darling, Anne Marie; Jackson, Elizabeth; Mugusi, Ferdinand; Chalamilla, Guerino; Fawzi, Wafaie
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 14:Number 2(2015:Mar./Apr.)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: HIV -- burden -- determinants -- severe anemia -- adults; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1177/2325957413488195
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9574

Abstract

Background and Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for severe anemia, severe microcytic anemia, and severe normocytic anemia among HIV-infected individuals aged >15 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for anemia. Results: Data from 40 408 patients were analyzed, showing an overall prevalence of 22% for severe anemia. The risk of developing severe anemia increased by 49% among patients with a body mass index of <18.5 kg/m 2, by approximately 2-fold among patients with the World Health Organization (WHO) stage III, and by 3-fold among patients with WHO stage IV illness. Severe normocytic anemia was uniquely increased among patients aged ≥50 years, among those with chronic diarrhea and Kaposi's sarcoma, and those taking cotrimoxazole. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of severe anemia among adults infected with HIV. Focused identification of anemia should be based on the hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume measurements.