ANTI RETROVIRAL LIFE-SAVING THERAPY; A CURVE FITTING APPROACH IN PAKISTAN.

Objectives: Effective implementation of mathematical and statistical models maximizes the likelihood of understanding the trajectory, level and pattern of incurable diseases and their therapies, so that precise demand strategies for costly lifesaving therapies for future, resource allocation and timely intervention could be ensured, a significant concern for less developed countries like Pakistan. Methods: The record of monthly number of patients on lifesaving anti-Retroviral Therapy for more than 18 HIV treatment centers in Pakistan was acquired for the period January 2011 to July 2013.A set of eleven curve fitting models namely linear, quadratic, cubic, logarithmic, inverse ,exponential growth model, logistics-curve and compound models was carried out for prediction. Results: After the execution of various curve fitting models by taking the ANOVA approach along with coefficient of determination and the forecast accuracy measures namely, mean percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE) and mean square error (MSE) in the selection of final efficient model. Cubic model was selected for forecasting the monthly anti-retroviral therapy cases for all categories i.e. overall, male female and children. On the basis of final selected model 3% increment is expected number of paticuts on anti-retroviral therapy annually in HIV treatment center in all Pakistan. Male patients are expected to increase 14% who will get lifesaving anti-retroviral therapies. While the annually expected reduction of 17% and 42% in female and children cases taking anti-retroviral therapy is expcted in future respectively. Conclusions: The overall number of people on anti-retroviral therapy are expected to increase in Pakistan. Males are expected to have greater risk as compared to female and children in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]