title: HIV symptom burden and anemia among HIV-positive individuals: cross-sectional results of a community-based positive living with HIV (POLH) study in Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has reported high rates of anemia in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in hospital or tertiary care settings. The objective of this community-based study was to measure the prevalence of anemia and describe the risk factors, with a specific emphasis on HIV symptom burden, in PLWHA in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 319 PLWHA residing in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. We recruited participants from five non-governmental organizations in the Kathmandu Valley. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study found a 55.8% prevalence of anemia in PLWHA in the Kathmandu Valley. The prevalence of anemia among the participants with first, second, third, and fourth quartiles of HIV symptom burden was 44.8%, 49.3%, 60.3%, and 69.6%, respectively. Compared to the participants with lowest level of HIV symptom burden, the participants with highest level of HIV symptom burden were more likely to have anemia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.14; 95% confidence interval = 1.07 to 4.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to a high prevalence of anemia in a community-based sample of PLWHA, HIV patients should be counseled on their risk of developing anemia and encouraged to seek timely care for HIV symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poudel-Tandukar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Poudel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents