OBJECTIVE To investigate the occurrence time and risk factors of anemia in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome （AIDS） after taking highly active antiretroviral therapy （HAART） containing zidovudine. METHODS The clinical data of 2 150 AIDS patients who were followed up in the care clinic of Liuzhou People’s Hospital from January 1， 2010 to December 31， 2022 were collected. The occurrence time of anemia was analyzed retrospectively， and the risk factors of anemia were analyzed by univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 854 AIDS patients receiving HAART containing zidovudine were collected， and 107 patients （12.53%） developed anemia. Most of them （63.55%） developed anemia within 3 months after treatment. Baseline hemoglobin [OR＝2.944， 95%CI （1.195， 7.501）， P＝0.019]， baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte count [OR＝2.472， 95%CI （1.117， 5.469）， P＝0.026] and baseline human immunodeficiency virus-ribonucleic acid （HIV-RNA） [OR＝4.299， 95%CI （1.905， 9.705）， P＜0.001] was associated with anemia. CONCLUSIONS The median time of anemia in AIDS patients receiving HAART containing zidovudine is the second month after initiation of treatment. Baseline hemoglobin≤110 g/L， baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte E-mail：1315775863@qq.com count≤100 /mm3， and baseline HIV-RNA≥100 000 copies/mL are independent risk factors for anemia in these patients.