A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical Profile of HIV Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Part of Maharashtra

Background and aim In India, socioeconomic factors, healthcare access, and cultural views influence HIV epidemiology. With over two million cases, high-risk groups include drivers, sex workers, and intravenous drug users. Early symptoms often go unnoticed, and advanced stages lead to opportunistic infections. Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART) advancements, access remains a challenge. Effective management per National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) guidelines is essential. This study aimed to understand the clinical profile of people living with HIV (PLWH) with sociodemographic variation at tertiary care centers in the western part of Maharashtra. Methods and methodology A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on PLWH from November 2022 to May 2024. The PLWH patients of all age groups and all categories were included in the study. The sociodemographic data were collected, and clinical staging was done according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of HIV/AIDS. Data were expressed as mean±standard deviation and percentage proportion. Results Out of 150 PLWH, 77 (51.33%) were male and 73 (48.67%) were female patients. The majority of patients, 102 out of 150, were in the age group of 30-50 years. The most common mode of HIV transmission was heterosexual (143 patients, 95.33%). At the time of presentation, 102 patients (68%) were symptomatic, while 48 patients (32%) were asymptomatic. A total of 77 patients (51.33%) were included in WHO clinical stage 2 of HIV disease. In terms of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD 4) count, 62 patients (41.33%) had counts between 201 and 500, 54 patients (36%) had counts greater than 500, and 34 patients (22.67%) had counts below 200. Most patients, 94 (62.67%), had a BMI of less than 18.5. Pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be the most commonly associated opportunistic infection (OI), constituting 57 (38%) cases, followed by acute gastroenteritis 35 (23.33%). Conclusion The demographic and clinical profiles of the study participants highlight the importance of early case detection and the timely initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy.