title: Retinal Microvasculopathy Is Common in HIV/AIDS Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
abstract: Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular disorders in HIV positive patients attending the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.Methods. A cross-sectional study using systematic random sampling was conducted on 295 HIV positive patients. Data collection consisted of semistructured questionnaires, laboratory investigation, medical profile, and ophthalmic examination. Statistical association tests includingχ2, independentt-test, and ANOVA were done. Apvalue ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results. Of the 295 participants, 205 (69.5%) were on antiretroviral therapy while 90 (30.3%) were not on therapy. Majority of the participants (162, 54.9%) were in clinical stage two, followed by stages three (68, 23.1%), one (62, 21%), and four (3, 1%), respectively. The overall prevalence of ocular disorders was 5.8%. The most common HIV related ocular disorder was HIV retinal microvasculopathy (58.8%), followed by herpes zoster ophthalmicus andToxoplasmaretinochoroiditis, both representing 11.8% of ocular disorders seen. Cytomegalovirus retinitis, Bell's palsy, and optic neuritis were the least common (5.9%). CMV retinitis recorded the highest viral load of 1,474,676 copies/mL and mean CD4 count of 136 cells/mm3. The mean CD4 count for participants with HIV related ocular disorders was significantly lower compared to participants without disorders (t= 2.5,p= 0.012). Participants with ocular disorders also recorded significantly higher mean viral loads than those who did not have ocular disorders (t= 2.8,p= 0.006).Conclusion. Lower CD4 counts and high viral load copies were associated with the manifestation of HIV related ocular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Kwasi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2354-9170
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Abu
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abokyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Dorcas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Obiri-Yeboah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard Kobina Dadzie
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5572-9059
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ephraim
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Afedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Lawrence Duah
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Agyeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel Bert
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Boadi-Kusi