Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a major health problem since discovery of the virus in 1981 Globally, since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in 1996, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related deaths fell by more than 25% between 2005 and 2011. HIV related opportunistic illnesses (OIs) are less common, especially with the use of prophylaxis. This study aims to assess the incidence of HIV infection and related OIs in Qatar over a 17-year period. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all HIV infected patients registered in Qatar from 2000-2016. Incidence of HIV infection and related OIs were calculated per 100,000 population. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between two groups of patients with and without OIs. Results: In 167 cases with HIV infection, 54 (32.3%) had OIs. The average incidence rate of HIV infection over 16 years is 0.69 per 100,000 population, and the incidence rate for OIs is 0.27 per 100,000 population (Figure 1). The most common OIs is pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), seen in 25% of cases, followed by cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis with 7.2%, tuberculosis 5.4%, toxoplasmosis 4.2%, and less than 2% for Kaposi sarcoma and cryptococcal infection. The treatment outcome of cases with OIs was: cure in 59.3%, failure in 3.7%. Mortality within 3 months of OIs was 3.7%, whereas 33.4% accounted for loss to follow up after starting the treatment due to patients leaving the country. Most patients in both groups were young males. The CD4 lymphocyte count and percentage (CD4%), CD4/CD8 ratio and viral load were statistically significant risk factors in cases with OIs (p < 0.05). Presence of comorbidities was lower in patients with OIs (p = 0.032). Conclusion: Qatar has a low prevalence rate for HIV infection and related opportunistic illness. Early diagnosis and use of antiretroviral therapy are important measures to decrease the rate of opportunistic illness.
Highlights
Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a major health problem since discovery of the virus in 1981
We aim in this study to assess the incidence of HIV infection and related opportunistic infections (OIs) in Qatar for 17-year period, and assess the spectrum of these infections, risk factors and treatment outcome
The most common opportunistic illness is pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) 25% of cases, followed by cytomegalovirus infections (CMV) retinitis 7.2%, Tuberculosis 5.4%, Toxoplasmosis 4.2% and less than 2% for Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma and cryptococcal infection
Summary
Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a major health problem since discovery of the virus in 1981. HIV related opportunistic infections (OIs) are less common, especially with use of prophylaxis to prevent such infections [3]. We aim in this study to assess the incidence of HIV infection and related OIs in Qatar for 17-year period, and assess the spectrum of these infections, risk factors and treatment outcome. Methods retrospective cohort study for all HIV infected patients registered in Qatar from 2000-2016. Incidence of HIV infection and related opportunistic illness was calculated per 100000 population. Results of 167 cases with HIV infection 54 (32.3%) of them had opportunistic illness. The average incidence rate of HIV infection over 17 years is 0.69 per 100000 population, and the incidence rate for opportunistic illness is 0.27 per 100000 population, figure. The most common opportunistic illness is pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) 25% of cases, followed by CMV retinitis 7.2%, Tuberculosis 5.4%, Toxoplasmosis 4.2% and less than 2% for Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma and cryptococcal infection
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