Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2013
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 3

Socio-demographic and Clinical Profile of HIV/AIDS Cases Expired in a Tertiary Care Centre in North Karnataka, India

1Assistant Professor, Department of Skin, STD & Leprosy, Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

2Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

3Tutor, Dept of Anatomy, Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgaum instead of PG Student, Dept of Anatomy, J N Medical College Belgaum

*Corresponding author: Viveki RG, Associate Professor, Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgaum - 590001, Karnataka, India. Phone number: (Mob): 09845143860

Online published on 26 June, 2013.

Abstract

Globally, HIV/AIDS continue to be a major public health priority as it is one of the major financial burdens on health care system worldwide.

To explore the general clinical profile, CD4 status & frequency of opportunistic infections & non-infectious opportunistic diseases among expired HIV/AIDS cases.

The present retrospective record based case study was conducted in BIMS Hospital - a tertiary care center in North Karnataka during January to February, 2011 after going through the records of all HIV/AIDS cases expired in the hospital, from January 2008 to December 2010. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.

Of 361 cases expired during their hospital stay in the study period, majority (64.8%) were males and 213 (59.0%) were belonging to the age group of 26 to 40 years. Mean hemoglobin level was found to be 7.69 (± 2.21) gm%. Among those cases whose CD4+ T lymphocyte status was known (38.8%), more than 3/4th (77.1%) were having less than 200 cells/μL. Common signs and symptoms recorded were weight loss (99.4%), weakness (97.2%), cough (61.5%), fever (60.4%), altered sensorium (32.4%), general wasting syndrome (67.6%), pallor (91.7%), candidiasis (38.2%), etc. Common opportunistic infections/diseases recorded were Tuberculosis (61.5%), Septicemia (13.6%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (6.9%) etc.

TB remains the commonest opportunistic infection among HIV positive cases. Findings in the present study might help hospital/health managers understand the major predictors of HIV related mortality.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS cases, Opportunistic infections, Antiretroviral Therapy