TNJ - February 2002 - Feature Story - African Americans Overlook HIV-Related Anemia By Katherine K. Williams

February 2002

African Americans Overlook HIV-Related Anemia

Awareness of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of HIV-related anemia among African Americans living with HIV remains alarmingly low, according to the results of a first-of-its-kind survey of nearly 700 HIV-positive Americans. These results indicate that, as America enters its third decade of the AIDS epidemic, African Americans living with HIV may be overlooking HIV-related anemia, an important condition that affects up to 95 percent of them at some point in their disease.

“This survey demonstrates a serious lack of knowledge about anemia among African Americans living with HIV,” said Gary Reedy, president of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., sponsor of the survey that was conducted by Yankelovich Partners Inc./Harris Interactive. “This new information is troubling because anemia is easily diagnosed by a simple blood test and there are management options available such as proper diet, lifestyle changes and prescription medications.”

Anemia is a result of a below-normal level of red blood cells and can be a complication of HIV/AIDS and its treatments. It can be caused by the virus itself or by certain HIV/AIDS treatments, including AZT (zidovudine), that may suppress bone marrow production of red blood cells, among other factors. Symptoms of HIV-related anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, difficulty concentrating and loss of appetite.

Symptoms Eluding Patients

The survey revealed that most African American respondents (83 percent) said their doctor asked them if they had experienced some of the common symptoms of anemia, such as weakness or tiredness. But more than half (59 percent) said their doctors have never discussed anemia with them. Nearly two in five (43 percent) believe they have not been tested for the condition, which is done with a routine blood test, and 82 percent said their doctors have never recommended testing. Overall, 87 percent of HIV-positive African Americans said that doctors should routinely check HIV patients for anemia.
“The good news is that physicians are asking their patients about tiredness and weakness, which can be symptoms of anemia,” said Margaret Davis, former president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA).

Red Blood Cell Count

When it comes to blood test results, many African American survey respondents reported that they were not well-informed. Many respondents said they did not receive copies of their blood tests from their doctors (39 percent) and only 54 percent said they knew how to read the results. Only two-thirds (64 percent) were aware that doctors routinely measure red blood cell count when doing a CBC, or complete blood count. Only two in five (42 percent) said their doctors communicated the results of their red blood cell count to them. Four in five (84 percent) said they did not know at what level their red blood cell count would indicate that they may be at risk of developing anemia. The normal ranges for hemoglobin are 14-18g/dL for men and 12-16 g/dL for women.

These findings stand in stark contrast to the African American respondents’ knowledge and awareness of their T-cell count and viral load, two important markers of HIV disease. Nearly all African American respondents (93 percent) said that their doctors regularly measure their T-cell count and viral load. Three in five (62 percent) said they knew their T-cell count indicates their health is at risk if it is less than 200, and 33 percent correctly recognized that a viral load over 30,000 copies puts their health at risk

“It is good to see that many African Americans living with HIV understand the importance of tracking their T-cell count and viral load and know what those numbers mean,” said Millicent Gorham, executive director of the NBNA. “Now we must increase patient understanding of hemoglobin and red blood cell count, other important numbers related to their HIV disease and treatment.”

Send a Network Journal Greeting Card With Music to a loved one or friend. In preparing to celebrate Black History Month (February) here in America, the theme of our greeting cards for the next two months will feature famous people of color from the last century.

The music to accompany the cards are Motown and Reggae songs.