Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Regimen Change Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Boru Meda Hospital, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Abstract:
Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy is the cornerstone of management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Antiretroviral therapy can improve quality of life and prolong patient’s surviv al; however they may cause a number of adverse effects; which may end with treatment failure and/or regimen changes. The aim of the study is to assess the reasons for antiretroviral regimen change among HIV/AIDS Pa tients in Boru meda general Hospital, ART Clinic.
Methods: Hospital based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Boru meda general Hospital; HAART Clinic recorded from January 01, 2007 to January 30, 2018 by reviewing patients’ information sheets, medical records and laboratory results. Patients who changed their highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection.
Result: A total of 275 patients whose first line HAART drug regimen changed in BMH were reviewed. Above half (56.4%) of the patients in this study were females. The patients, 174(66.9%) were at the age groups between 30-45 years. During initial changes toxicity was the most common reason 182(66.2%)reported followed by33(12%) comorbidity, 25(9.1%) treatment failure, 17(6.2%) pregnancy and16(5.8%) adherence difficulty. Regarding to the initial regimen, 88(32%) patients were on D4T/3TC/NVP, 62(22.5%) were on D4T/3TC/EFV, 64(23.3%) were on AZT/3TC/NVP and 52(18.9%) were on AZT/3TC/EFV.
Conclusion: This study indicated that the main reasons for initial and second time ART regimen change were drug toxicity among the study population. Co-morbidity, treatment failure and pregnancy were the other reasons. Lipodystrophy, anemia, renal toxicity, vomiting and rash were among the most common leading toxicity causes for ART regimen change respectively.
