Determinants of immunological recovery following HAART among severely immunosuppressed patients at enrolment to care in Northern Ethiopia: a retrospective study. Issue 8 (31st August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Desta, Abraham Aregay; Kidane, Kibriti Mehari; Bahta, Yemane Weldu; Ajemu, Kiros Fenta; Woldegebriel, Ataklti Gebretsadik; Berhe, Asfawosen Aregay; Bezabih, Nega Mamo; Woldu, Awtachew Berhe; Woldearegay, Tewolde Wubayehu
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 10:Issue 8(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08-31
• Subjects: immunology -- HIV & AIDS -- epidemiology; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This study aimed to identify determinants of immunological recovery following highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among severely immunosuppressed patients at enrolment to care in Northern Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective study. Setting: The study was done in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Participants: The study was done among severely immunosuppressed (<200 CD4 cells/mm 3 ) individuals at initial enrolment to care and whose samples were sent for viral load determination from April 2015 to March 2019 in Tigray Health Research Institute. Main outcomes: The main outcome variable was immunological recovery, modelled using binary logistic regression. Results: Among the 9687 patients with severe immunosuppression at enrolment, 2746 (28.35%, 95% CI 27.45% to 29.26%) had immunological recovery following HAART for at least 6 months. Male gender (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.50, p<0.001), age 20–34 years old (AOR=0.33, p<0.001), age ≥50 years old (AOR=0.26, p<0.001), WHO clinical stage III (OR=0.68, p=0.036) and viral non-suppression (AOR=0.38, p<0.001) were strong predictors of immunological failure. Conclusions: Immunological recovery following HAART was low among severely immunosuppressed individuals at enrolment to care. Gender, age, WHO stage III and viral non-suppression were determinants of immunological recovery. Male patients, adolescents and virally non-suppressed patients should be identified as groups at higher risk for immunological failure. Therefore, greater support and intensive counselling should be prioritised among adolescents, men and virally non-suppressed patients for better immunological recovery.