An Evaluation of Renal Care received by Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) Patients admitted in a Tertiary Hospital in Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The burden of HIV is on the rise and patientswith HIV are also vulnerable to renal impairment from bothacute and chronic causes. This study sets out to evaluate renalcare received by such patients.METHODS: The study was conducted at Connaught Hospital,the main tertiary hospital (for medical and surgical cases) in thecountry. A retrospective review of all admitted patients withHIV between January and December 2019. Data was collectedusing a well- structured study proforma. RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were admitted with HIV duringthe study period. The mean age of patients was 36.9 ± (11.5) years with a female preponderance of 61.3%. A vast majority ofthe patients (54.8%) could afford to do some renal investigationsand only 13.9% were seen by renal physicians; 69.1% of patientswith azotaemia died while on admission.CONCLUSION: The extent of renal care observed from thestudy was poor because the majority of the patients were notseen b y r e na l physic ia ns a nd co uld no t affor d r e na linvestigations. Also, the occurrence of renal impairment inpatients with HIV suggests a poor prognosis. WAJM 2022;39(11) 1193­1197.