Factors Associated with Virological Suppression of HIV Viral Load in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Conakry, Guinea

Abstract

Viral load testing is a key indicator for assessing ART success and diagnosing drug resistance in people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed to assess virological suppression among people living with HIV / AIDS on antiretroviral therapy in Guinea. This was a three years descriptive cross-sectional that involved adult HIV-positive patients treated in different sites in Conakry. The study population consisted of patients living with HIV/AIDS, followed up at Conakry ART care and treatment sites, samples collected from the study population were sent to the National Institute of Public Health for viral load testing between January 2018 and June 2021. The viral load was quantified by the Generic Biocentric technique and the detection threshold set at 350 copies/ml. Factors associated with virological suppression were analysed by univariate or multivariate logistic regression. Statistical analysis were performed by R software version R4.0.3. A total of 9815 samples were collected and viral load data analyzed at the national public health laboratory. The sample was dominated by women (72%), with an average age of 29. Of these, 6,706 (68%) of people on ART had viral load suppression. The univaried analysis showed that women were (22%) more likely to have VL suppression (p-value < 0.001) moreover, the chance for all HIV-positive people on treatment to achieve viral load suppression was related to the length of treatment. The results of this study show viral load suppression greater than 68%. The length of antiretroviral therapy, female gender, and advancing age of PLHIV were associated with VL suppression. Targeted awareness raising actions must be undertaken with patients who have an important risk.