Prevalence and Risk Factors of Zidovudine-induced Anemia in Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment at Warinchamrap Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani

Abstract

          Background: Zidovudine (Azidothymidine, AZT) is one of major drugs in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The important adverse drug reaction of this drug is anemia. While prevalence and risk factors in Thailand were not reported. Objective: To assess prevalence and risk factors of AZT-induced anemia at Warinchamrap Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective study among AIDS patients at HIV clinic. The data were collected during 2009-2013 to define prevalence and analyze association between risk factors and anemia from AZT using chi-square test. Results: From 141 patients received AZT-based HAART regimen, 21 patients (14.9 percent) developed anemia, and 6 patients (4.3 percent) developed severe anemia. Almost all of them developed anemia within 6 months. The statistical analysis found that female gender and low baseline hemoglobin level (<12 gm%) were both significant risk factors of anemia from AZT (p < 0.05) since odds ratio (OR) were 3.2 (95% CI 1.03-10.20) and 3.0 (95% CI 1.12-8.18) respectively. While age, body weight, CD4 level, WHO clinical staging, cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and prior treatment of other regimens of HAART showed no relevance with anemia from AZT