Effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV infected/AIDS patients at Soidao Hospital,Chanthaburi Province.

Abstract

Background : AIDS was the common and important health problem of Thailand since 1984.The numbers of infected patients with HIV were increased, the mortality rate was high.The usage of antiretroviral drug treatment in HIV infected/AIDS patients was proved that prolonged life and improved quality of life.

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness of antiretroviral drug in the treatment of Naive HIV infected/AIDS patients attended at antiretroviral clinic of Soidao hospital between June 2003 to June 2007. By mean of measuring the changing of CD4 count and body weight at 6th, 12th and 18th month after antiretroviral treatment and also evaluate the side effects of antiretroviral drugs.

Material and method : A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. The data were corrected from database of Soidao hospital. All adults HIV infected/AIDS patients were included by inclusion criteria. The HIV infected/AIDS patients must attended regularly at least 18 months long. The changing of CD4 count and body weight at 6th, 12th and 18th month after antiretroviral treatment was analyzed by Repeated Measures ANOVA method.

Results : Thirty three Naive HIV infected/AIDS patients were included in this study. The means CD4 count at the beginning, 6th, 12th and 18th month after antiretroviral treatment were 42.58, 187.39, 232.85 and 294.64 cells/mm3 respectively, which increased significantly (p<0.001). The mean body weight at the beginning, 6th, 12th and 18th month after antiretroviral treatment were 52.88, 57.03, 57.46 and 57.98 kilograms respectively, which increased significantly (p<0.001) The side effects of antiretroviral drugs were 75.76 percent mostly neuropathy and rash. Six patients (18.18 percent ) had to change to the new drug regimen due to Steven Johnson