CD4 counts in HIV positive patients in west timor, indonesia - A snapshot

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Data regarding HIV patients' CD4 counts reported from Indonesia are scarce, especially from the outer islands. Until recently CD4 counts have only been available in large academic tertiary referral hospitals in Java or Bali. In 2013, the Alere Pima CD4 Analyser was rolled out across many sites in Indonesia including Prof. Johannes Hospital. <h3>Aims</h3> To describe the CD4 count distributions of patients with HIV/AIDS at Prof. Johannes Hospital. This data will also serve as a baseline to monitor the HIV/AIDS program and as a basis for comparison when HIV viral load testing becomes available in the near future. <h3>Methods</h3> This is a retrospective single centre study based at Prof. Johannes Hospital in Kupang involving analysis of routinely captured data from the laboratory CD4 count logbook. Patient files and pharmacy records will be reviewed to determine whether the patients were on anti-retrovirals. <h3>Results/Discussion</h3> Results for 2013 will be presented. Preliminary analysis reveals that the majority of patients have CD4 counts eligible for starting anti-retroviral therapy. Public health and health personnel education needs to be improved to enable earlier diagnosis and initiation of anti-retrovirals and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections to eligible HIV patients to improve morbidity and mortality.