| Issue/Objective |
Despite progress in treatment access, HIV/AIDS remains a
major global public health concern. In 2023, an estimated 39.9 million
people were living with HIV globally. Advanced HIV disease, defined by a CD4 count below 200 cells per cubic millimetre or WHO clinical stages 3 or 4, remains associated with high morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings. Identifying determinants of advanced HIV disease is crucial for enhancing early detection and improving outcomes. This study analyzed factors associated with advanced HIV disease onset at Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon. |
| Methodology/Approach |
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from October to November 2025 at Yaoundé Central Hospital, including people living with HIV aged 20 years and older under regular monitoring. Data were extracted from patient records and registers and analyzed using R and SPSS software. Logistic regression assessed associations with 95% confidence intervals and a significance threshold of p<0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from relevant institutional review boards. |
| Results |
Among 347 participants with a mean age of 39.3 years and a male to female ratio of 0.76, men were nine times more likely to develop advanced HIV disease than women (aOR 9.15; p<0.001). Patients aged 40-49 years were at significantly higher risk than those under 30 years (aOR 43.27; p<0.001), representing the most striking age-related finding in the study. Conversely, being a homemaker was independently protective compared with being formally employed (aOR 0.08; p=0.01), suggesting that occupational flexibility enabling earlier healthcare engagement may protect against advanced disease presentation.
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| Discussion/Conclusion |
Male sex, older age particularly in the 40-49 year group,
and formal employment are independently associated with advanced HIV
disease at presentation in Cameroon. These findings underscore the need
for targeted early HIV management strategies for men and middle-aged
adults, CD4 count assessment at ART initiation to identify advanced
immunodeficiency, and occupationally adapted HIV testing and linkage
models to reduce morbidity and mortality from advanced HIV disease
in resource-limited settings. |
| Presenters and Affiliations |
Ntambara Steven Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN), Kigali, Rwanda |
