Evaluation of Biomedical Markers Among HIV Patients Above the Age of 18 in Accessing ART at Parirenyatwa Hospital Family Care Center in Zimbabwe: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

HIV infection and its treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can have significant effects on various biomarkers, including creatinine levels. Understanding the factors associated with creatinine levels in HIV-positive patients is crucial for optimizing their care and outcomes.This retrospective cross-sectional study included 444 HIV-positive patients receiving ART at PHFCC in Zimbabwe . Data on age, gender, duration of ART, WHO clinical stage, comorbidities, viral load, CD4 count, and ART regimen type were collected. Creatinine levels were measured as a biomarker of kidney function, Chi square test was conducted to test association between creatinine level and various risk factors among patients under ART ,P< 0.05 was considered as statisticaly signficants. Age, gender and ART regimen type were found to be significantly associated with creatinine levels. However, no significant associations were observed with the duration of ART, WHO clinical stage, comorbidities, viral load, or CD4 count. Most participants were middle-aged, with females comprising the majority. The majority of participants had been on ART for 1-5 years, with the majority also taking a first-line ART regimen. Only a small percentage of participants had comorbidities. This study highlights the importance of age, gender, and ART regimen type in influencing creatinine levels in HIV-positive patients. Further research with a more generalizable study sample is warranted to fully understand the relationships between these biomarkers. These findings underscore the need for personalized approaches to the management of HIV-positive patients, considering individual characteristics and treatment regimens.