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Ayisi-Boateng NK, Blay Nguah S, Omuojine JP, Ovbiagele B, Sarfo FS. Course and characteristics of depression over a 12-month period among Ghanaians living with HIV: the EVERLAST study. AIDS Care 2022; 34:1547-1554. [PMID: 35084272 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2029821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with HIV are predisposed to depression but there is limited data on its dynamics and correlates. We aimed to assess course and characteristics of depression among Ghanaian HIV patients over a 12-month period. We interrogated a longitudinal study dataset of patients at a tertiary hospital and assessed depression at month 0 and 12 using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Association between clinical, sociodemographic factors and changes in PHQ-9 scores were evaluated. Among 320 study participants, 171 (53.4%) and 55 (17.2%) had depression at month 0 and 12 respectively. Persistent depression was detected in 41 (24.0%) of the 171 patients with depression at month 0, whilst 135 (42.2%) of them never experienced depression. Patients' CD4 count was associated with depression at month 0 and 12 (p<0.05). Predictors of change in depression scores were urban dwelling [-1.98, 95%CI: -3.86 to -0.06, p=0.039], not knowing one's monthly income [2.10, 95%CI: 0.58 to 3.61, p=0.007], participant being single [-1.62 95%CI: -2.45 to -0.78, p<0.001] and being on antiretroviral therapy at recruitment [-1.5, 95%CI: -2.55 to -0.45, p<0.001]. There was a significant decrease in depression scores over a 12-month period and persistent depression is rife among this cohort of Ghanaians with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Blay Nguah
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
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Omuojine JP, Nguah SB, Ayisi-Boateng NK, Sarfo FS, Ovbiagele B. Contemporary prevalence and predictors of anxiety among patients living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. Ghana Med J 2022; 56:169-175. [PMID: 37448991 PMCID: PMC10336633 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v56i3.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To identify the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety in people living with HIV/AIDS in a tertiary centre in Ghana. Design The study employed a cross-sectional design. Setting The study was conducted in the outpatient HIV clinic of a tertiary hospital. Participants Participants were adult PLWHA receiving OPD care, including those established on combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and newer patients who were not on cART. Four hundred ninety-five participants aged ≥30 years were consecutively enrolled on the study. Interventions Demographic and clinical data were collected using standard questionnaires and patient files. Anxiety was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify associated factors. Main outcome measure Proportion of PLWHA who had HADS score of ≥8. Results Overall prevalence of anxiety was 61.0% (95%CI: 56.6 - 65.3), with no significant difference between recently diagnosed (≤ 6 months, 64.3%) and those with established diagnoses (>6 months, 59.1%). Urban residence (aOR: 1.67, 95%CI: 1.12 - 2.51), alcohol use (aOR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.13 - 2.38) and depression (aOR: 13.62, 95%CI: 7.91 - 23.45) were independently associated with anxiety. Conclusion In this sample, 6 in 10 Ghanaian PLWHA had evidence of anxiety. Liaison with the national mental health service for more comprehensive and integrated care and further research into the mental health of PLWHA is recommended to reduce this high burden of anxiety. Funding This study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center (R21 TW010479).
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Paul Omuojine
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel B Nguah
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Fred S Sarfo
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Sarfo FS, Kyem G, Asibey SO, Tagge R, Ovbiagele B. Contemporary trends in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in Ghana. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 210:107003. [PMID: 34715557 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.107003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widespread introduction of early combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for People Living with HIV (PLWH) will influence the burden, profile, and trajectory of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in the 21st century. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence and trajectory of HAND among PLWH in a Ghanaian tertiary medical center. METHODS We analyzed the dataset of a study involving PLWH established on cART (n = 256) and PLWH not initially on cART (n = 244). HIV-negative individuals (n = 246) served as normative controls for neurocognitive assessments. HAND was defined according to the Frascati criteria into asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI), mild neurocognitive disorder (MND) and HIV-associated dementia (HAD) at enrollment and at month 12. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with HAND. RESULTS Among PLWH on cART, 21.5%, 3.5% and 0.0% had ANI, MND and HAD respectively compared with 20.1%, 9.8% and 2.0% among PLWH cART naïve, p < 0.0001. Overall, 71.6%, 20.8%, 6.6% and 1.0% had no cognitive impairment, ANI, MND and HAD at baseline. Among participants who completed month 12 follow-up, 55.2% had no cognitive impairment, 43.5%, 1.2%, 0.0% had ANI, MND and HAD respectively, p < 0.0001. Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of six independent predictors of HAND at month 12 were no education (3.29;1.81-6.00), stage 4 disease (4.64;1.37-15.69), hypertension (2.28;1.10-4.73), nevirapine use (2.05;1.04-4.05), baseline viral load (0.66;0.56-0.77), and cigarette use (0.10; 0.03-0.42). CONCLUSION Most Ghanaian patients in the post-cART era with HAND had mild neurocognitive impairments. The impact of hypertension on progression of HAND warrants further evaluation in our settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Gloria Kyem
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Raelle Tagge
- Northern California Institute of Research and Education, USA
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, USA
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Sarfo FS, Norman B, Appiah L, Ovbiagele B. Factors associated with incidence of stroke and heart failure among people living with HIV in Ghana: Evaluating Vascular Event Risk while on Long-Term Antiretroviral Suppressive Therapy (EVERLAST) Study. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2021; 23:1252-1259. [PMID: 33939257 PMCID: PMC8678797 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) have a two‐fold higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) compared with HIV‐negative populations. Although 70% of the global HIV population reside in Africa, data on CVD outcomes among PLWH are scarce. We seek to evaluate factors associated with incidence of stroke and heart failure in a prospective cohort of Ghanaian PLWH. We followed up a cohort of PLWH on antiretroviral therapy for 12 months to assess rates of clinically adjudicated stroke, and heart failure. We calculated incidence rates of events/1000 person‐years and fitted Cox proportional hazards regression models to identify factors associated with incident stroke and heart failure as a combined outcome measure and as separate outcome measures. Among 255 participants, the mean age was 46 years and 211 (82.7%) were female. The participants contributed 245 years of follow‐up data with mean follow‐up duration of 11.5 months. There were three incident strokes giving an incidence rate of 12.24 per 1000 person‐years (95% CI: 3.13–33.33) and two heart failure events with an incidence rate of 8.16 (95%CI: 1.37–26.97) per 1000 py. The combined event rate was 20.41 (95% CI: 7.48–45.24) per 1000 py. Being hypertensive was associated with aHR of 8.61 (1.32–56.04) of the combined outcome while each 100 cells/mm3 rise in CD4 count was associated with aHR of 0.56 (0.35–0.88). Carotid bulb intimal media thickness was independently associated with stroke occurrence with aHR of 12.23 (1.28–117.07). People living with HIV on long‐term cART in this Ghanaian sample have high rates of clinically adjudicated cardiovascular diseases driven by uncontrolled hypertension and persisting immunosuppression. Integration of CVD care into routine HIV management may help alleviate this untoward confluence of rising CVDs among PLWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Betty Norman
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lambert Appiah
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
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Sarfo FS, Norman B, Nichols M, Appiah L, Osei Assibey S, Tagge R, Ovbiagele B. Prevalence and incidence of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus among people living with HIV in Ghana: Evidence from the EVERLAST Study. HIV Med 2020; 22:231-243. [PMID: 33174302 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Available data from high-income countries suggest that people living with HIV (PLWH) have a four-fold higher risk of diabetes compared with HIV-negative people. In sub-Saharan Africa, with 80% of the global burden of HIV, there is a relative paucity of data on the burden and determinants of prevalent and incident dysglycaemia. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence and incidence of pre-diabetes (pre-DM) and overt diabetes mellitus (DM) among PLWH in a Ghanaian tertiary medical centre. METHODS We first performed a cross-sectional comparative analytical study involving PLWH on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) (n = 258), PLWH not on cART (n = 244) and HIV-negative individuals (n = 242). Diabetes, pre-DM and normoglycaemia were defined as haemoglobin A1C (HBA1c) > 6.5%, in the range 5.7-6.4% and < 5.7% respectively. We then prospectively followed up the PLWH for 12 months to assess rates of new-onset DM, and composite of new-onset DM and pre-DM. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with dysglycaemia among PLWH. RESULTS The frequencies of DM among PLWH on cART, PLWH not on cART and HIV-negative individuals were 7.4%, 6.6% and 7.4% (P = 0.91), respectively, while pre-DM prevalence rates were 13.2%, 27.9% and 27.3%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Prevalent DM was independently associated with increasing age [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) (aOR, 95% CI) = 1.82 (1.20-2.77) for each 10-year rise], male sex [aOR = 2.64 (1.20-5.80)] and log(triglyceride/HDL cholesterol) [aOR = 8.54 (2.53-28.83)]. Prevalent pre-DM was independently associated with being on cART [aOR (95% CI) = 0.35 (0.18-0.69)]. There were a total of 12 cases of incident DM over 359.25 person-years, giving 33.4/1000 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) (95% CI: 18.1-56.8/1000), and an rate of incident pre-DM of 212.7/1000 PYFU (95 CI: 164.5-270.9/1000). The two independent factors associated with new-onset DM were having pre-DM at enrolment [aOR = 6.27 (1.89-20.81)] and being established on cART at enrolment [aOR = 12.02 (1.48-97.70)]. CONCLUSIONS Incidence rates of pre-DM and overt DM among Ghanaian PLWH on cART ranks among the highest in the literature. There is an urgent need for routine screening and a multidisciplinary approach to cardiovascular disease risk reduction among PLWH to reduce morbidity and mortality from the detrimental effects of dysglycaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Betty Norman
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Lambert Appiah
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Shadrack Osei Assibey
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raelle Tagge
- Northern California Institute of Research and Education, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Sarfo FS, Singh A, Tagge R, Mensah G, Ovbiagele B. Duration of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV and incidence of hypertension in Ghana. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2020; 22:2361-2371. [PMID: 33125834 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the differential rates of incident hypertension among People Living with HIV (PLWH) based of duration of exposure to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) may provide insights into the pathogenesis of hypertension in this population. Utilizing the dataset of a prospective study conducted at a Ghanaian tertiary medical center, we evaluated factors associated with incident hypertension among PLWH previously naïve to cART before study enrollment (cART newly prescribed group, n = 221) versus PLWH established on cART for at least a year (cART established group, n = 212). New-onset hypertension was diagnosed as clinic BP > 140/90 mmHg on two separate clinic visits over 12-month follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess factors associated with incident hypertension. Mean age of new versus cART established was 41.1 ± 8.2 versus 45.1 ± 8.6 years (p < .001), with more women in the cART established group (68.3 vs. 82%, p = .0009). There were 105 (24.3%) episodes of incident hypertension over 328 person-years follow-up (PYFU), incidence rate of 320.1 (95% CI: 263.1-385.9)/1000 PYFU, with higher rates in new versus cART established (476.6/1000 PYFU vs. 222.8/1000 PYFU, p = 0.0002). Overall, age by increasing decile (aHR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59-0.98), log HIV-1 viral load (aHR 1.16; 1.04-1.35), and use of tenofovir (aHR 1.66; 1.04-2.64) were associated with incident hypertension. While CD4 counts, age, BMI, pre-diabetes, and urban/peri-urban residency were independently associated with hypertension in the cART established group; no independent predictors were identified among the cART newly prescribed group. Further studies to explore the potential mechanisms underlying incidence of hypertension in PLWH are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Arti Singh
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Raelle Tagge
- Northern California Institute of Research and Education, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gideon Mensah
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Sarfo FS, Ovbiagele B. Prevalence and predictors of statin utilization among patient populations at high vascular risk in Ghana. J Neurol Sci 2020; 414:116838. [PMID: 32325358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.116838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inadequate implementation of evidence-based preventive measures for individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) will only worsen the current epidemic of CVDs in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed rates and predictors of statin utilization among two high CVD risk patient populations, people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and those with stroke, encountered across five hospitals in Ghana. METHODS A cross-sectional study among 1427 patients with T2DM and 159 stroke survivors encountered at 5 hospitals (1 primary-level, 2 secondary level and 2 tertiary level) in Ghana between July 2015 and June 2018. We collected baseline demographic and clinical details including statin prescription from medical records. Factors associated with statin prescription among T2DM for primary prevention and stroke survivors for secondary prevention were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Among patients with T2DM without CVDs, 240 (16.8%) were on statins for primary prevention. Factors associated with statin use among diabetics expressed as aOR (95% CI) were being treated at a tertiary level hospital 5.86 (3.22-10.68), hypertension comorbidity 1.80 (1.25-2.60), and lower income 0.43 (0.26-0.70). Among 159 stroke survivors, 22 (14.0%) were on statins with the following associated factors: lower income 0.16 (0.03-0.77), secondary level vs. tertiary level education 0.21 (0.05-0.97) and having T2DM 4.69 (1.63-13.49). CONCLUSION Approximately 1 in 6 individuals with T2DM without CVD and 1 in 7 stroke survivors are prescribed statins in Ghana. Efforts to bridge this practice gap and improve access to life saving preventative medications for CVD risk reduction in low-and-middle income countries are urgently warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Bruce Ovbiagele
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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So-Armah K, Benjamin LA, Bloomfield GS, Feinstein MJ, Hsue P, Njuguna B, Freiberg MS. HIV and cardiovascular disease. Lancet HIV 2020; 7:e279-e293. [PMID: 32243826 PMCID: PMC9346572 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(20)30036-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
HIV-related cardiovascular disease research is predominantly from Europe and North America. Of the estimated 37·9 million people living with HIV worldwide, 25·6 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. Although mechanisms for HIV-related cardiovascular disease might be the same in all people with HIV, the distribution of cardiovascular disease risk factors varies by geographical location. Sub-Saharan Africa has a younger population, higher prevalence of elevated blood pressure, lower smoking rates, and lower prevalence of elevated cholesterol than western Europe and North America. These variations mean that the profile of cardiovascular disease differs between low-income and high-income countries. Research in, implementation of, and advocacy for risk reduction of cardiovascular disease in the global context of HIV should account for differences in the distribution of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors (eg, hypertension, smoking), consider non-traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors (eg, access to antiretroviral therapy with more benign cardiovascular disease side effect profiles, indoor air pollution), and encourage the inclusion of relevant risk reduction approaches for cardiovascular disease in HIV-care guidelines. Future research priorities include implementation science to scale up and expand integrated HIV and cardiovascular disease care models, which have shown promise in sub-Saharan Africa; HIV and cardiovascular disease epidemiology and mechanisms in women; and tobacco cessation for people living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaku So-Armah
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Laura A Benjamin
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gerald S Bloomfield
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Matthew S Freiberg
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville VA Medical Center, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
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