Anteneh Amsalu1, Kindie Desta2, Demiss Nigussie3, Demoze Delelegne2. 1. Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar P.O.box 196, Ethiopia. 2. School of medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O.box 1560, Ethiopia. 3. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O.box 1560, Ethiopia.
Abstract
AIM: To assess the pattern of ocular manifestation and associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to April 2015. After obtaining informed written consent, 240 adult HIV/AIDS patients on HAART were randomly selected regardless of their ophthalmic symptoms, WHO status or CD4 count. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and ophthalmologic clinical examination. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. RESULTS: The mean duration of HAART was 62.5mo. The prevalence of HIV related ocular manifestation was 14.2%. Seborrheic blepharitis (5%) was the most common ocular manifestation, followed by squamoid conjunctival growth (3.8%). The rate of ocular manifestation was significantly higher among study participants who had CD4+ count <200 cells/µL (AOR=3.83; 95%CI: 1.315-11.153), low duration of HAART (AOR=3.0; 95%CI: 1.305-6.891) and who had primary school education [odds ratio (OR) =2.8; 95%CI: 1.105-7.099]. Prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was 10.9% and 5.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: HAART may be the reason for the decline in the prevalence of ocular manifestation in HIV/AIDS patients in the study area. Ophthalmologic screening of HIV/AIDS patients, especially those with CD4 counts of <200/µL cells and in the first five years of HAART follow-up is recommended to reduce visual impairment and/or blindness.
AIM: To assess the pattern of ocular manifestation and associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at Hawassa University Referral Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to April 2015. After obtaining informed written consent, 240 adult HIV/AIDSpatients on HAART were randomly selected regardless of their ophthalmic symptoms, WHO status or CD4 count. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and ophthalmologic clinical examination. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. RESULTS: The mean duration of HAART was 62.5mo. The prevalence of HIV related ocular manifestation was 14.2%. Seborrheic blepharitis (5%) was the most common ocular manifestation, followed by squamoid conjunctival growth (3.8%). The rate of ocular manifestation was significantly higher among study participants who had CD4+ count <200 cells/µL (AOR=3.83; 95%CI: 1.315-11.153), low duration of HAART (AOR=3.0; 95%CI: 1.305-6.891) and who had primary school education [odds ratio (OR) =2.8; 95%CI: 1.105-7.099]. Prevalence of visual impairment and blindness was 10.9% and 5.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: HAART may be the reason for the decline in the prevalence of ocular manifestation in HIV/AIDSpatients in the study area. Ophthalmologic screening of HIV/AIDSpatients, especially those with CD4 counts of <200/µL cells and in the first five years of HAART follow-up is recommended to reduce visual impairment and/or blindness.
Entities:
Keywords:
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human immunodeficiency virus; ocular manifestation