Severe anaemia in people with HIV: demographic, clinical and renal correlates

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic, clinical and renal correlates associated with severe anaemia among people with HIV. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months, stratified by anaemia status. Anaemia was defined based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification, as haemoglobin concentration lower than normal i.e. <12 g/dl in females and < 13 g/dl in males and the primary outcome, severe anaemia, as a haemoglobin level below 8 g/dl according to the World Health Organisation. RESULTS: The study comprised 372 participants receiving ART, of whom 236 (63.4%) were females. The mean age ± SD of the participants was 44.8 ± 12.4 years. The overall prevalence of severe anaemia was 7.8% (95% CI: 0.053-0.111). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with severe anaemia were female sex (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR: 14.3, 95% CI: 2.14-126.6), albumin (AOR: 0.93 95% CI: 0.88-0.98) and creatinine levels (AOR: 1.01 95% CI: 1.00-1.03).