HAART Use and Cardiovascular Risk Among HIV Patients in Rivers State, Nigeria

Cardiovascular diseases have been associated with deaths among HIV seropositive persons in low income countries. This was a cross-sectional study of cardiovascular risk among 100 HIV seropositive persons and 100 age and sex matched seropositive but HAART-naive controls in Rivers state, Nigeria. The study subjects underwent clinical examinations to determine their blood pressure and anthropometric parameters. Blood samples were taken to assess fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Risk assessment was done using the WHO/ISH cardiovascular risk score chart. Among the subjects, 76 (76%) were on a non-PI based HAART compared with 24 (24%) on a PI-based HAART. The mean BMI and CD4 count were significantly higher among the cases than the controls (p =.0.048 and p < 0.0001 respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean SBP (131.90 ± 14.33mmHg versus 127.48 ± 12.03mmHg) and DBP (83.88 ± 6.59mmHg versus 80.63 ± 6.74mmHg) between the cases and controls (p = 0.019 and 0.023 respectively). Dyslipidaemia was higher among the cases than the controls (low HDL-c was 36% vs 33%; increased TC 20% vs 7%; increased LDL-c 13% vs 4% and triglycerides 7% vs 5%. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and increased LDL-c was significantly higher among the cases than the controls (p = 0.007 and 0.022 respectively). The prevalence of intermediate to high CV risk score was higher among the HAART experienced HIV seropositive subjects compared to control subjects