Spectrum of Comorbid Conditions and Their Relationship to CD4 T-lymphocyte Counts in HIV-Infected Patients in Mbour, Senegal

Abstract

Background: Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) present with a broad spectrum of clinical conditions as a result of compromised immune systems. There is little data reflecting the clinical spectrum and prevalence of comorbid conditions among HIV/AIDS patients in Mbour, Senegal.

Objective: This study aims to describe the incidence of comorbidities affecting HIV/AIDS patients in Mbour and to examine the relationship between comorbidities and CD4 T-lymphocyte counts in this population.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seeking care for HIV/AIDS at the Hospital of Mbour (n=426) between March 2005 and May 2014. CD4 counts at presentation and comorbid conditions were documented and analyzed to determine frequency of each condition in the population and the relationship between CD4 counts and clinical presentation of disease.

Results: The most common condition in patients with HIV/AIDS at presentation in Mbour is chronic diarrhea (30.7% of patients), followed by dermatitis (29.5%) and oral candidiasis (25.4%). Patients presenting with candida infection, dermatitis and diarrheal illness have significantly lower CD4 counts than those presenting without these conditions. Patients with CD4 counts below 200 cells/μL have a greater number of comorbidities than patients with higher CD4 values.

Conclusion: This study outlines the clinical profiles of patients presenting with HIV/AIDS at the Hospital of Mbour and correlates symptoms with CD4 counts. This data could be utilized clinically to promote community educational outreach for early detection of disease based on the most common presentation of HIV/AIDS in this patient population.