Associating demographic, clinical, and radiological presentation of HIV patients with TB and other co-infections in KPK, Pakistan

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) afflicts the immune system by annihilating the white blood cells. The infection of HIV can alter the epidemiology and clinical profile of tuberculosis (TB) in patients suffering from co-infection. The objectives of the current study were to demographically and retrospectively analyze the data of HIV-infected patients admitted to different hospitals at KPK, Pakistan, and elaborate the key radiological and clinical differences in HIV positive patients with various co-infections and their effect on the CD4 level. Methodology: Initially, 1057 patients with HIV admitted to different hospitals of KPK were assessed for clinical presentation, co-infections, and their correlation with CD4 level. The data of patients, including date of hospital registration, weight, gender, diagnosis, age, and therapy, were obtained using a specifically designed Performa. In addition, sputum test of HIV patients was also conducted for screening of TB. Results and Conclusion: Our main findings are that HIV makes TB more severe such that CD4 count cell reduces to a level of 82-120 (killer stage). The incidence of HIV is two times greater in the males of the population under study. Young, single, and illiterate males were more affected by HIV and TB due to sexual contact and injecting intravenous drugs by contaminated syringes. Radiography was abnormal and pulmonary TB was common in HIV-positive TB patients. Co-infection of HIV and TB significantly reduced CD4 cells level in patients. The majority of HIV patients were Afghan refugees or those who came to Pakistan for better treatment.