A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON CLINICO- EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING ART CENTRE AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by the retrovirus human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and characterised by profound immuno-suppression that leads to opportunistic infections. The present study was conducted with an objective to study demographic and clinical profile of PLWHA attending ART Centre SVBP Hospital Meerut. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted on HIV positive cases registered in ART Centre or admitted in the medicine department of LLRM Medical College, Meerut. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and information regarding demographic and clinical profile of the cases was collected. Results: Out of 800 cases, 534 cases (66.75%) were male and 266 cases (33.25%) were female. Mean age of male was 34.62±10.2 years and 32.12 ± 9.62 for female. As many as 54 (6.99%) patients were sputum positive for AFB, 492 (61.48%) patients were anaemic, 276 (34.53%) patients had macrocytic, 182 (22.75%) had microcytic anemia. Physical examination showed 426 (53.29%) febrile, 443 (55.37%) prostration, oral ulcers 81 (10.17%), pigmentation 268 (33.53%), 295 (36.92%) pallor, jaundice was present in 33 (4.19%), Lymphadenopathy 138 (17.36%), genital and skin involvement was 19(2.39%) and 27 (3.39%) respectively. Conclusion: The present study suggests that HIV/AIDS have highest prevalence in sexually active and economically productive age group, person with low socio-economic status and rural area, more in illiterate and person having lack of knowledge for HIV/AIDS. Fever and prostration was predominant clinical features on presentation.