Factors Affecting CD4 Count Response in HIV Patients within 12 Months of Treatment: A Case Study of Tamale Teaching Hospital

Abstract

The effectiveness of HIV treatment can be assessed by monitoring the Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts of HIV positive patients. Changes in CD4 cell counts over time in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) could explain how HIV patients respond to treatment (ART). We seek to identify factors that affect Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count response in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 12 months of treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) of Ghana. The data was based on the records of patients in the database of the hospital from 2009 to 2013. Factors identified include social (smoking habits, religious affiliation and alcohol consumption) and demographic factors (age, sex and employment status); antiretroviral therapy (ART regimen) and immunological CD4 cell count at the initiation of treatment). However, only two of the variables (Age and Gender) were found to be significant and were therefore included in the model. The rest of the variables did not affect CD4 cell count response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The results also showed that the model provided a reasonable statistical fit (chi-square value of 10.058 with corresponding probability value of 0.261 which is greater than the level of significance (0.05)). Since age affected (increase) in the CD4 cell counts in response to ART, detection of HIV infections at young age is paramount for early treatment when there the likelihood of significant CD4 cell count increase. This will translate into increased immunity and prolong the lives of HIV patients.