ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo determine the characteristics， viral load and immunological status of HIV-infected persons and their spouses who became HIV-positive， and the reasons for HIV seroconversion in 55 HIV discordant couples in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture （Dehong Prefecture）， Yunan Province. MethodsData on the 55 couples meeting the criteria of having a previously positive spouse were retrieved from the AIDS Integrated Prevention and Control Data Information System of the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System during 2015-2021. General socio-demographic information， age at diagnosis， exposure history， CD4+T lymphocyte count， and antiviral treatment were collected. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test were used to compare the distribution of pre-HIV-positive spouses and their HIV seroconverted spouses. ResultsA total of 55 spouses from HIV discordant couples had HIV seroconversion. Of them， 72.7% （40/55） of pre-HIV-positive spouses were husbands. The most recent CD4+T lymphocyte count in the pre-HIV-positive spouses was （328.31±246.27） cells·μL-1 at the time of diagnosis of their seroconverted spouses， of which 36.3% （20/55） had a CD4+T lymphocyte count of less than 200 cells·μL-1. Furthermore， of those pre-HIV-positive spouses with low CD4+T lymphocyte count， 45.0% （9/20） had an undetectable viral load， 15.0% （3/20） <400 copies·mL-1， and 25.0%（5/20） ≥400 copies·mL-1. Additionally， 16.4% （9/55） of the pre-HIV-positive spouses did not have a viral load test. The main reasons for HIV seroconversion among HIV-negative spouses in the discordant couples were poor condom use， poor compliance with antiviral therapy， and treatment discontinuation. ConclusionThe follow-up management of HIV discordant couples should be strengthened in Dehong Prefecture， especially the monitoring of viral load levels and immunological status of pre-HIV-positive spouses， to improve their compliance with antiviral therapy and reduce treatment discontinuation， which would effectively prevent and control HIV transmission between spouses.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that viral load ([VL) is a primary tool that clinicians and researchers have used to monitor patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), an antiviral drug against retroviruses. Whereas, CD4 cell counts can only be used to monitor clinical response to ART in the absence of VL testing service. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the level of immunological status and virological suppression, and identify associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus ([HIV)-infected adults who were taking antiretroviral drugs of combination regimen know as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).@*METHODS@#A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized referral hospital from February to April 2018. A total of 323 adult participants on HAART were selected using a systematic random sampling technique and enrolled into the study. Blood samples for viral load determination and CD4 cell count were collected. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with immunologic status and virological suppression in HIV patients on HAART. Odds ratio with 95% CI was used to measure the strength of association.@*RESULTS@#Virological suppression (VL level 499 cells/mm (AOR = 7.71; 95% CI 3.48, 17.09) at VL testing and current age > 45 years old (AOR = 5.99; 95% CI 2.12, 16.91). Similarly, favorable immunological status (≥ 400 cells/mm for male and ≥ 466 cells/mm for female) was observed in 52.9% (95% CI 47.4, 58.8) of the study participants. Baseline CD4 cell count of > 200 cells/mm, age at enrollment of 26 through 40 years old, and urban residence were significantly associated with favorable immunological status.@*CONCLUSION@#Though the majority of HIV-infected adults who were on HAART had shown viral suppression, the rate of suppression was sub-optimal according to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target to help end the AIDS pandemic by 2020. Nonetheless, the rate of immunological recovery in the study cohort was low. Hence, early initiation of HAART should be strengthened to achieve good virological suppression and immunological recovery.