BMC Research Notes

Search for
Advanced search
BMC Research Notes
Tools
Open Access Short Report

Risk factors and correlates for anemia in HIV treatment-naïve infected patients: a cross-sectional analytical study

José A Mata-Marín1*, Jesús E Gaytán-Martínez1, Rosa E Martínez-Martínez2, Carla I Arroyo-Anduiza3, José L Fuentes-Allen1 and Moisés Casarrubias-Ramirez2

Author Affiliations

1 Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Infectología, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, México

2 Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Especialidades, "La Raza" National Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, México

3 Clinical Pathology Department, Hospital General, "La Raza" National, Medical Center, IMSS, Mexico City, México

For all author emails, please log on.

BMC Research Notes 2010, 3:230 doi:10.1186/1756-0500-3-230

Published: 20 August 2010

Abstract

Background

Hematologic manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are a well-recognized complication of the disease and may be clinically important. Our objective was to determine the risk factors for anemia and its correlation with HIV treatment-naïve infected patients without co-infection or opportunistic diseases.

Findings

We performed a cross-sectional comparative study in which HIV treatment-naïve infected patients with anemia were compared with a control group of HIV patients without anemia. The interrelationship between risk factors and anemia was determined. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, to adjust for the effects of potential confounders and we used a logistic regression model. Pearson's correlation coefficient was obtained to calculate the correlation between risk factors and hemoglobin.

We enrolled 54 men and 9 women. Anemia was found in 13 patients; prevalence .20 (CI 95% 0.12-0.32). Severe anemia was found in only one patient (1.5%). Only CD4+ Cells Count <200 cells/mm3 was associated with increased risk of anemia in the multivariate analysis. There was a moderately strong, positive correlation between WBC and hemoglobin (r = 0.49, P < 0.001) and between CD4+ cell count and hemoglobin (r = 0.595, P < 0.001) and a moderately strong, negative correlation between HIV RNA viral load and hemoglobin (r = - 0.433, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Anemia is a common manifestation in the Mexican population without antiretroviral therapy. In HIV naïve patients a CD4+ Cell Count < 200 cells/mm3 was associated with an increased risk of anemia. There is a positive correlation between hemoglobin and CD4+ cell count.