Epidemiology and Determinants of Serologically Diagnosed HIV-1 and HIV-1&2 in Tertiary Hospitals of Eastern Peninsular Malaysia

ABSTRACT

@#Introduction: HIV is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. There are two types of HIV, HIV-1, and HIV-2, which are geographically different in epidemiology and determinants. Objective: To determine the epidemiology and determinants of HIV-1 and HIV-1&2 in the three tertiary hospitals of Eastern Peninsular Malaysia. Method: A cross-sectional study of confirmed serologically HIV-1 and HIV-1&2 from January 2016 until December 2018. SPSS analysed all collected data, descriptive statistics for sociodemographic data and Pearson chi-square for the association between type of HIV with HCV, HBV, syphilis, and tuberculosis. In identifying the risk factor associated with HIV-1&2, several variables were tested by the Multiple Logistic Regression Model. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 519 serologically diagnosed HIV, 344 (66.28%) were HIV-1, and 175 (33.72%) were HIV-1&2. HIV positive were highly distributed in Malay male in both groups. Most HIV-1 patients were single, unemployed, and presented with tuberculosis. HIV-1&2 were single and employed, mostly asymptomatic at diagnosis. The commonest mode of transmission for HIV-1 was by sexual contact (31.87%), whereas IVDU (13.63%) in HIV-1&2. Co-infection with tuberculosis (P=0.005) and HCV (P<0.001) were significantly higher in HIV-1 as compared to HIV-1&2. IVDU was a significant determinant to develop HIV-1&2 (Adjusted OR 3.5, 95% CI=1.875-5.227, P<0.001). Conclusion: HIV-1&2 was high in this study. Patients with HIV-1&2 present in less severe symptoms compared to the patient with HIV-1. A further molecular diagnostic study should be tested to confirm the type of HIV.