DRUG UTILISATION PATTERNS, PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS, OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HIV PATIENTS IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN BHIMAVARAM

Objectives: To assess the risk factors, opportunistic infections (OI’s), prescribing patterns along with ADRs, medication adherence, and quality of life (QoL) among HIV patients. Methods: This is an Ambi-directional cohort study conducted at the Government hospital, Bhimavaram, for 6 months from July 2019 to December 2019, including 201 HIV patients’ data. The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.3.0. Descriptive statistics & paired t-test were employed to assess risk factors, OIs, prescribing patterns, and QoL, respectively. Results: Out of 201 patients. Heterosexuality (96%) was found to be a predominant risk factor in this study. Between type-1 and type 2 HIV patients, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/ Lamivudine & Efavirenz (TLE) and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/ Lamivudine/ Lopinavir/ Ritonavir (TL/ATV/r) were the first-line and second-line therapies respectively in type-1 patients; however, TL/LPV/r was reserved for type 2 individuals. Among 201 patients, 55 patients were reported with 60 ADR’s and the predominant ADR was found to be rashes (36%). Approximately 76% were reported with a history of OI’s, the most prevalent being TB (39%). Almost 94% of individuals were highly adherent to ART with the improvement in QoL after treatment. Conclusion: This study concluded that heterosexuality is the major risk factor and is effectively managed by TLE-based ART. It also reported rashes as the most common ADR and TB as the most prevalent OI. QoL in all domains has been improved after ART with greater adherence.