IMPACT OF MALARIA CO-INFECTION ON NUTRITIONAL AND IMMUNE PARAMETERS IN HIV PATIENTS IN UROMI, EDO STATE

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) significantly weakens the immune system, and co-infection with Plasmodium species, the causative agent of malaria, may further exacerbate immunological and nutritional deficiencies in affected individuals. Aim: This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the disease burden among HIV-positive patients co-infected with malaria in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 360 subjects were randomly selected, comprising 116 HIV and malaria co-infected individuals (test group), 152 HIV-positive but malaria-negative individuals (control group I), and 92 apparently healthy individuals (control group II), aged 7–63 years. Venous blood samples (8 ml) were collected and assessed for immunological, biochemical, and malaria parasitological parameters. Results: The prevalence of HIV and malaria co-infection in the study area was found to be 43.4%. The co-infected group showed significantly higher granulocyte counts (58.01±23.36%) compared to both control groups (p<0.05). Conversely, lymphocyte (36.50±22.16%), monocyte (5.49±4.04%), and total white blood cell counts (9.26±7.37 x10⁹/L) were significantly lower in the co-infected group (p<0.05). Nutritional indices also revealed notable differences: co-infected individuals had significantly lower glucose levels (65.38±16.59 mg/dL) compared to HIV-only patients (76.26±47.44 mg/dL), while albumin concentration was unexpectedly higher (4.07±0.66 g/dL) in the co-infected group than in control group I (3.88±0.66 g/dL). Conclusion: Co-infection with malaria in HIV-positive individuals further compromises immune function and alters nutritional parameters, increasing the overall disease burden. These findings highlight the need for integrated disease management and targeted interventions in co-endemic regions.