Abstract:
Background: Deranged hematological parameters, including thrombocytopenia, are features of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thrombocytopenia is the second most frequent complication of HIV infection.
Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of thrombocytopenia among HAART naive
people living with HIV at Ambo University referral hospital.
Methods: Hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Ambo university referral hospital
from June 2021 to September 2021. The data were gathered retrospectively from the patients’ medical cards.
The collected data was processed and analyzed using SPSS version 24 and presented as a table and figure, then
interpreted based on the findings. Logistic regression was drawn with a p-value of less than 0.05 accepted as
statistically significant.
Results: Most of the study participants were females 68(60.7%). The mean ± SD age of the patients was 36.46 ±
9.6 years, ranging from 19 to 67 years. The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was 13(11.6%). In terms of
CD4 count, study participants with a CD4 count less than 350 were nearly 14 times more likely to have
thrombocytopenia than those with a CD4 count greater than 500 (AOR = 13.76, 95% CI) (1.368–138.49).
Participants in the study who were treated with AZT containing HAART were 9 times more likely to develop
thrombocytopenia than their counterparts (AOR = 9.49, 95% CI (1.732–5202).
Conclusion: A decreased CD4 number and the presence of other medical co-morbidity showed to have increased
risks towards the presence of thrombocytopenia. Therefore, to decrease thrombocytopenic-related mortality and
morbidity, there should be continuous screening for HIV-infected patients
