AEGiS-14IAC: A study on disease progression and early diagnosis of HIV in india.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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A study on disease progression and early diagnosis of HIV in india.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10724)

Muthu M
Physician, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in the number of HIV infected individuals in India. The median duration of progression of HIV disease in India is not clearly known. This study aims at analysing the stage at which HIV disease is diagnosed, and the median time interval of HIV disease progression from diagnosis. Materials: A retrospective analysis of 150 HIV infected individuals attending an urban referral care centre in Chennai was done. Median time interval of disease progression was calculated by using Kaplan-Meier curve.

RESULTS: Of the 150 HIV infected individuals 67% were diagnosed only in later stages of HIV disease. Those with sexually transmitted infections(STI) were diagnosed at an early stage of HIV disease, than those without STI. 77% were diagnosed as HIV by the general physician, because they were symptomatic. 15% were diagnosed as HIV on screening as they had other STIs. The median time interval(MTI) for the development of AIDS indicator illnesses from the time of diagnosis was 10 months. The MTI, from the diagnosis of asymptomatic HIV infection to the development of AIDS indicator illness was 10 months, and that from symptomatic HIV disease to the development of AIDS indicator illness was 5 months.

CONCLUSION: In India as HIV is being diagnosed in later stages of the disease, more focus should be given on early diagnosis specially by general physicians, as they diagnose most of the HIV infection. HIV infected individuals diagnosed in symptomatic stages of HIV disease should be frequently followed up and screened for the development of AIDS indicator illnesses. STIs other than HIV help in early diagnosis of HIV disease, so awareness about STIs in relationship with HIV should be given extensively in this part of the country.

Keywords: AEGIS, Disease Progression, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, AIDS Serodiagnosis, Prognosis, Retrospective Studies, India, DiagnosisKWDaegis,diseaseprogression,hivinfections,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivseropositivity,cd4lymphocytecount,aidsserodiagnosis,prognosis,retrospectivestudies,india,diagnosis

020707
C10724

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.