Burden and Determinants of Severe Anemia among HIV-Infected Adults: Results from a Large Urban HIV Program in Tanzania, East Africa
Makubi, A.; Okuma, J.; Spiegelman, D.; Hawkins, C.; Darling, A.Marie.; Jackson, E.; Mugusi, F.; Chalamilla, G.; Fawzi, W.
Journal of the International Association of Providers of Aids Care 14(2): 148-155
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 2325-9574 PMID: 23792708 DOI: 10.1177/2325957413488195Document Number: 640211
This cross-sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for severe anemia, severe microcytic anemia, and severe normocytic anemia among HIV-infected individuals aged >15 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for anemia. Data from 40 408 patients were analyzed, showing an overall prevalence of 22% for severe anemia. The risk of developing severe anemia increased by 49% among patients with a body mass index of <18.5 kg/m(2), by approximately 2-fold among patients with the World Health Organization (WHO) stage III, and by 3-fold among patients with WHO stage IV illness. Severe normocytic anemia was uniquely increased among patients aged ≥50 years, among those with chronic diarrhea and Kaposi's sarcoma, and those taking cotrimoxazole. There was a high prevalence of severe anemia among adults infected with HIV. Focused identification of anemia should be based on the hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume measurements.