Clinical and Immunological Benefits of ART among PLHA Attending ART Clinic, Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

With the advent of anti-retroviral therapy HIV AIDS has become a chronic manageable disease. It has been shown to be beneficial in many fronts in AIDS management. In Kerala state (S.India), free ART is being provided for the last few years through government medical college hospitals. Around 250 PLHA attend ART clinic at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram every month. This study looked into the benefits of ART as experienced by PLHA.
Methods: 140 PLHA attending ART clinic were examined and history of illness, ART, side effects, well being and opportunistic infections were taken. Present weight and CD4 counts were compared with previous ones. Analysis was done using epi-info.
Results: Mean duration of infection was 4 years. Mean duration of ART was 6 months. Only 22.9% patients reported any adverse reaction. 41.4% people reported that ART was very much useful. 57.9% people had reduction in opportunistic infections. Mean increase in weight was 3.36 Kg (p value of 0.000). Mean increase in CD4 count was 171 (p value of 0.000).
Conclusions: ART helps in decreasing the morbidity of the disease significantly. It gives the patient a state of well being and protects from opportunistic infections. Adverse effects are minimal.