Evaluation of Baseline CD4+ T Cell Counts and ART Requirement in Newly Diagnosed HIV Seropositive Individuals in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India

Abstract

Introduction: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has changed the outlook of Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients worldwide. Aim: To analyse the trends in baseline CD4+ T cell counts and ART requirements in newly diagnosed HIV seropositive individuals in a Tertiary care hospital of Northern India. Materials and Methods: Out of 1263 HIV seropositive clients identified from January 2012 to June 2014, the baseline CD4+ T cell counts of only those 470 clients were analysed, who registered at the linked ART centre. Results: The mean baseline CD4+ count of the study group was 249.77±216.0cells/mm3 and that of male and female were 300.31±240.47cells/mm3 and 232.38±204.25cells/mm3 respectively. A total of 259 of 334 (77.54%) HIV reactive males, 83 of 130 (63.85%) HIV reactive females and overall 348 of 470 (74.04%) required antiretroviral treatment on enrolment. Conclusion: In the present study, about three-fourth of newly diagnosed HIV positive Indian patients required initiation of ART at registration. The relatively low baseline CD4+ T cell counts in this population highlights the need for timely baseline CD4+ counts testing of HIV positive patients and the urgency of initiating treatment in HIV reactive individuals in Indian health care settings.

Keywords

• antiretroviral therapy
• integrated counselling and testing centre
• national aids control organization