GENDER DIFFERENCES IN CD4 RESPONSES AND PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA IN PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY

OBJECTIVE - To study the gender related differences in CD4 count responses and prevalence of anemia in South Indian population receiving antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary care center. METHODOLOGY - A retrospective analysis with 6 months follow up was done among patients with CD4 counts less than 350cells per cu mm who were initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) from January 2011 to December 2011. They were evaluated for their hemoglobin status, opportunistic tuberculosis infection, development of zidovudine toxicity, disease progression and mortality for a period of six months. RESULTS - Among the 375 patients analyzed, 40 percentage were females and 60 percentage were males. Women had more incidence of anemia compared to men both at initiation (44 vs. 36.4 percentage) and after six months (26.5 vs.19.11 percentage) of therapy. Incidence of tuberculosis was higher in males than in females (p less than 0.01). There was no significant gender based differences in body mass index (p greater than 0.05). The CD4 counts at initiation and at the end of six months of HAART were significantly higher in females compared to males (p less than 0.05). Incidence of zidovudine induced anemia was more in females (p less than 0.05) compared to males. Mortality during HAART therapy was significantly higher in males compared to females (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION - There is significant gender based differences in response to HAART therapy with women having greater prevalence of anemia, zidovudine toxicity, better CD4 counts and lower incidence of tuberculosis and mortality than men.