Assessing creatinine levels of HIV positive patients on HAART : a case study of Ndejje HC IV, Wakiso District

Abstract

This study assessed creatinine levels in HIV-positive patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at Ndejje Health Centre IV, Wakiso District, Uganda. The research aimed to evaluate renal function by measuring serum creatinine levels, identifying the proportion of patients with elevated creatinine, and analyzing associations between specific antiretroviral regimens and kidney impairment. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing secondary data from 100 HIV-positive patients on HAART for at least six months. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis (Chi-square and t-tests), and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The key findings revealed that 25% of patients had elevated creatinine levels, indicating renal dysfunction. Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) based regimens (TDF/3TC/DTG and TDF/3TC/EFV) exhibited a strong association with elevated creatinine (p < 0.001), with 80% of TDF users exhibiting kidney impairment. Comorbidities such as hypertension (p = 0.0001) and diabetes (p < 0.001) further exacerbated renal decline. Prolonged HAART duration (>5 years) significantly correlated with higher creatinine levels (p < 0.001). The study underscores the urgent need for routine renal monitoring, alternative antiretroviral regimens (e.g., Tenofovir alafenamide), and integrated management of comorbidities to mitigate HAART-induced nephrotoxicity in HIV-positive populations.