Background:
India has the third largest number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, but the national prevalence is continuously receding owing to dedicated health centers as well as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which is associated with newer manifestations and outcomes. Complete understanding of HIV paradigm would facilitate timely identification, intervention, and medical modulation to obtain maximum benefits with minimal side effects. The study aimed to analyze the clinical profile and disease outcomes of HIV patients.

Material and methods:
This descriptive study included 200 HIV-positive patients, aged 20-70 years, attending or admitted to the study center. Participants were assessed for their demographic, medical, clinical, hematological, and viral characteristics as well as treatment rendered and disease outcomes. Descriptive statistics were applied.

Results:
The participating cohort had a mean age of 40.52 ± 7.29 years and M : F ratio of 1.8 : 1. Most patients presented with fever (72.0%), weight loss (53.0%), anemia (11.5%), lymphadenopathy (11.0%), dia­betes (23.0%), and respiratory involvement (47.5%). Tuberculosis (53.5%), candidiasis (29.5%), and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (11.5%) were the most prevalent opportunistic infections. HAART was dominated by tenofovir + efavirenz + emtricitabine (TEE) (55%), causing reduction in viral load and rise in CD4 count in about 71% of patients. Nearly 38% of participants showed a combination of clinical, immunological, and virological failures. Renal tubular necrosis (5%) was the most common adverse effect of HAART, while 1% developed immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Conclusions:
All adult HIV patients should be screened for side effects associated with HAART medi­cations in addition to typical HIV presentation.