A Study of HIV Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Bagalkot, North Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: HIV epidemic has posed enormous challenges to public health around the world. In India, HIV is destroying entire homes leaving behind women as widows and children as orphans. Bagalkot district in North Karnataka is the third highest for the number of people living with HIV in India. This study was conducted to know the clinico-demographic profile and mortality of HIV patients admitted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Bagalkot, North Karnataka. Materials and Methods: This case-series study of 163 HIV patients admitted in Hangal Sri Kumareshwar Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Bagalkot, Karnataka was done between January to December 2010. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Board, S. N. Medical College, Bagalkot. Data was obtained from the Medical records Department on a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma and analyzed using percentages and chi-square test. Results: In this study, 68.7% HIV patients were males with male to female ratio of 1:0.45. Half of the cases (50%) were in the age group of 31 to 40 years. Majority (82.2%) were from rural areas. Tuberculosis was the most common opportunistic infection (62.8%) followed by oral candidiasis (10.4%), typhoid (7.4%). HIV encephalopathy was diagnosed in 4.3% patients. Case fatality rate was 6.7% and death was more frequent (90.9%) in the 31 to 50 years age group (p=0.038). Conclusion: Early detection of opportunistic infections in HIV patients is the need of the hour as it influences morbidity and mortality.