Unveiling the prevalence of anaemia and its predictors among adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy in the dolutegravir era: a retrospective cross-sectional study

A sizeable proportion of participants were found anaemic. Female sex, older age, longer periods lived with the virus, lower CD4 count, non-suppressed viral load, history of opportunistic infections, WHO clinical stages III and IV and history of parasitic infestation were the contributing factors. Therefore, to improve the anaemic status and living circumstances of patients living with HIV, immediate action on the linked factors is needed, such as monitoring for maintenance of CD4 counts >200 cells/μL and avoiding progression of HIV to the advanced WHO clinical stages, suppressed viral load, preventing opportunistic infections and parasitic infestation.