Clinical and Socio-demographic Profile of Patients Attending Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centre in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dehradun

Abstract

Introduction: HIV remains a major global health challenge, with 37.7 million people living with HIV worldwide and India bearing the second-highest burden at 2.319 million PLHIV (prevalence 0.22%). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) under the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, yet regional variations in patient profiles necessitate ongoing assessments for targeted interventions. Objective/s: The study aimed to identify key risk factors, common clinical presentations and potential areas for improving care and support systems to better manage the HIV epidemic in this region. Method: Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee.  Current cross-sectional study reviewed records of 360 HIV-positive patients registered at the ART centre from January 2021 to January 2024. Data from patients’ white cards included socio-demographics (age, gender, occupation, education, residence), clinical details (WHO staging, baseline CD4 count, mode of transmission) and personal habits. Data was analysed using SPSS v 25.0 with descriptive statistics (means, frequencies) and chi-square tests (p<0.05). Results: Males predominated (63.9%; n=230), mean age was 35.29±12.74 years, mostly 30-40 years (35.8%). Rural residence (68.8%), married (73.9%), unemployed/homemakers (31.3%) and graduates (37.2%) were common. Sexual transmission was predominant (76%) followed by mother-to-child. Most presented at WHO Stage 1 (80.6%) with baseline CD4 ≥350 cells/mm³ (37.2%). Conclusions: Early-stage presentations reflect effective screening and ART access in Dehradun but male predominance, rural burden and behavioural risks highlight needs for gender-specific outreach, stigma reduction and prevention in productive-age groups to optimize HIV management.