Relationship Among CD4 Count, Symptoms Experience and Depression in People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLHIV)

Abstract

Background: Depression is common in people living with HIV/AIDS and there is some evidence that depressive symptoms may have adverse effects on immune functioning. The aim of the study was to assess the CD4 count; Symptoms experience and Depression among HIV/AIDS patients attending the ART centre district government Hospital, Navanagar, Bagalkot. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study with a convenient sample of 230 PLHIV attending the ART Centre, District Government Hospital, Bagalkot Symptoms Experience was assessed using Revised Sign and Symptom Checklist for HIV (SSC-HIV rev) and depression was assessed using Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), CD4 count was taken from medical records of PLHIV.Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: Results indicate, majority (51.3%) PLHIV hadCD4 less than 500 cells/ mm3with mean of CD4count score 553.76 ±262.44. Majority (88.7%) of PLHIV had moderate symptoms experience and most (95.2%) of them had significant clinical depression. There was a significant positive correlation between depression and symptoms experience( r = 0.588, P<0.01), but no significant correlation found between CD4 count and symptoms experiences and CD4 count and depression. Conclusion: The finding of the study concludes depression will have negative impact on patients’ clinical symptoms and CD4 count. Hence along with the medical management of PLHIV underlying depression should be treated meticulously. Keywords: CD4 count, Symptoms experience, Depression, People living with HIV/AIDS.