HIV infection in the west region of Pará: Clinical and socioeconomic characterization

Abstract

Aims: knowledge of the patient's profile, for the evaluation and suggested behaviors, promotes a favorable outcome. Thus, the objective of the study is to analyze the socioeconomic, clinical, and immunological characteristics of patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus in the western region of the state of Pará. Methods: were analyzed 1966 medical records of patients whose first visit to a reference center, in the municipality of Santarém-PA, was between 1998 and 2018. Socioeconomic, clinical, and immunological information was collected from patient medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting p <0.05. Results: there was a predominance of males (62.5%), aged 20-39 years (69.1%), elementary school (58.6%), single (57.3%), and employed (66.4%). Immunosuppression was present in 22% of patients and a viral load was detectable in 66%. Tuberculosis (37%) and toxoplasmosis (23%) predominated as opportunistic infections, and syphilis (62.6%) and human papillomavirus (HPV; 14%) as other infections. Conclusions: it is concluded that both opportunistic infections and other infections were present in 25-22% of the patients and that the presence of opportunistic infections favors the installation of another infection, or vice versa. Toxoplasmosis, HPV, and syphilis are positively associated with men, and toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis with age >35 years. Immunosuppression was shown to be positively associated with men and age >35 years, as well as favoring the onset of tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and detectable viral load.