To Study the Correlation of Viral Load and Cd4 Count of Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment in A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: HIV remains a major public health issue in India, where monitoring CD4 counts and viral loads is crucial for treatment planning and outcome assessment. While viral load is the gold standard for evaluating HIV progression, limited resources often necessitate reliance on CD4 counts, especially in low-income settings.
Objectives: This study aimed to (1) analyze the clinical profile and opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV-positive patients, (2) assess changes in CD4 counts and viral loads before and after 12 weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and (3) determine the correlation between viral load and CD4 count.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 90 HIV-positive patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital from January to December 2019. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, laboratory investigations including CD4 counts and viral loads at baseline and after 12 weeks of ART. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: Among 90 participants, 64.4% were male. The most common symptoms were fever (77%) and loss of appetite (74%). Tuberculosis was the leading OI, with extrapulmonary TB present in 22% of cases. Baseline mean CD4 count was 218 cells/µL, with 36% of patients having CD4 <100 cells/µL. Post-ART, mean CD4 count increased to 245 cells/µL, and 78% achieved undetectable viral loads (<50 copies/mL). A significant inverse correlation was found between CD4 count and viral load (r = -0.72, p<0.05).
Conclusion: CD4 count and viral load are critical, complementary markers in HIV management. Regular monitoring post-ART leads to improved immune status and viral suppression. In resource-limited settings, CD4 count remains a practical alternative, though scaling up viral load testing is recommended for enhanced care.