Evaluation of the effects of Artemisia Annua L. and Moringa Oleifera Lam. on CD4 count and viral load among PLWH on ART at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Table 3 Effect of A. annua, and A. annua + M. oleifera on secondary outcomes after 12 months of treatment

Other secondary outcomes		Mean difference (SD) or frequency (%)	p-value
Viral load < 50 copies, n (%)
CG		44 (59.5)	0.038*
AG		61(69.3)
AMG		67 (77.9)
Mean LVL
CG		-0.75 (2.47)
AG		-1.17 (2.32)	0.564
AMG		-2.56 (3.17)	0.022*
Mean increment in white blood cell count
CG		1.21 (2.67)
AG		1.14 (2.29)	0.080
AMG		2.08 (4.60)	0.003*
Mean increment in platelet levels
CG		-7.67 (7.73)
AG		-15.68 (10.06)	0.952
AMG		11.04 (3.29)	0.025*
Mean plasma levels of efavirenz and nevirapine (mg/l) (SD)
EFV (n = 67)	Baseline	4.66 (0.76)	0.987
	Week 1	4.66 (0.76)
	Week 2	4.51 (0.68)
NVP (n = 38)	Baseline	7.86 (1.21)	0.991
	Week 1	7.81 (1.05)
	Week 2	7.67 (0.94)

* Statistically significant result (p < 0.05)
AG: Artemisia group; AMG: Artemisia plus Moringa group; CG: control group; EFV: efavirenz; NEV: nevirapine; VL: Viral load; LVL: log transformed viral load
Data from the intervention groups and the control groups were compared using chi-square analysis for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test for continuous variables. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant

ISSN: 1742-6405