Prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Ethiopia: describing an emerging outbreak in HIV clinics of the sub-Saharan Africa - a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

HIV-induced chronic inflammation, immune activation and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) are linked with adverse metabolic changes known to cause cardiovascular adversities. This study evaluates the prevalence of lipodystrophy, and metabolic syndrome (MetS), and analyses risk factors in HIV-infected Ethiopians taking cART.

METHODS

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted at tertiary-level hospitals. Eligible participants attending the HIV clinics were enrolled. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, HIV treatment variables, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose level, risk factors and components of MetS, also lipodystrophy, were studied. Data were analysed by SPSS statistical package V.25 with descriptive and analytical statistics. For multivariable analysis of risk factors, a logistic regression model was used. Results were presented in frequency and percentages, mean±SD, or median+IQR. Statistical significance was taken as p<0.05.

RESULTS

Among 518 studied participants, two-thirds were females, and the mean age of the study population was 45 years (SD=11). The mean duration of cART was 10 years (SD=4). Median CD4 count was 460 cells/mm3. The prevalence of MetS according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (2005) criteria was 37.6%. In multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for MetS were age >45 years (aHR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.4), female sex (aHR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8), body mass index (BMI)>25 kg/m2 (aHR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8 to 4.1), efavirenz-based cART (aHR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 4.8) and lopinavir/ritonavir-based cART (aHR 3.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 13.3). The prevalence of lipodystrophy was 23.6%. Prior exposure to a stavudine-containing regimen was independently associated with lipodystrophy (aHR 3.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 6.1).

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed 38% of the participants had MetS indicating considerable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Independent risk factors for MetS were BMI≥25 kg/m2, efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir-based cART, female sex and age ≥45 years. In addition to prevention, CVD risk stratification and management will reduce morbidity and mortality in people with HIV infection.

Biomarkers and Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Syndrome Among People Living With HIV/AIDS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Study

BACKGROUND

While the fast extension of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has resulted in significant increases in life expectancy, disorders such as cardiometabolic syndrome (CMetS), which have received less attention, are becoming a major concern in HIV/AIDS patients (PLWHA).

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this research was to identify biomarkers and determine the prevalence of CMetS in PLWHA using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) tools.

METHODS

Between January 2019 and February 2021, a hospital-based study of HIV-infected patients (n = 288) was conducted. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. To control the effect of confounders, independent variables with a P-value of <.20 in the bivariate logistic regression were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression. Statistical significance was defined as a 95% confidence interval and a P-value of less than .05.

RESULTS

The risk of CMetS increased twofold as age increased each year (P = .009), 1.2 times as the age at which cART began increased (P = .015), and 6 times with 1 or more co-morbidities (P = .028), according to the NCEP tool. Furthermore, significant NCEP-CMetS correlations were produced by a rise in diastolic blood pressure (P < .001) and cART duration (P = .006). Male gender was 99.9% less likely to be related to CMetS using the IDF tool, and the risk of CMetS increased fourfold with each unit increase in waist circumference (P < .001). Triglycerides and blood type "A" have been found to have substantial relationships with CMetS using both techniques.

CONCLUSION

According to the study, CMetS was found to be common in PLWHA. Age, time on cART, age when cART started, gender, co-morbidities, waist circumference, and diastolic blood pressure were all revealed to be significant predictors of CMetS. Triglycerides and blood type "A" were the only biomarkers found to be significant with CMetS using both the NCEP and IDF tools.

Incidence of tuberculosis and early mortality in a large cohort of HIV infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Preceding studies on morbidities and mortalities associated with TB in a cohort of HIV care indicate high incidence of TB development and premature death among patients on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). This study aims to measure the rate of TB, TB mortality, and associated risk factors following commencement of HAART in a cohort of patients attending HIV care in Ethiopia. Patient information was gathered from the hospital register and analysed. TB incidence peaked within six months of HAART initiation, and dropped from 3.3/100 person-years in the first year to 0.4/100 person-years in the fifth year. At baseline, risk factors associated with TB included WHO clinical stage 3 HIV infection (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 2.53; 95% CI 1.70-3.70), WHO clinical stage 4 HIV infection (AHR, 3.86; 95% CI 2.54-5.86), and patients who were bed ridden >50% a day (AHR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.13-2.05). The rate of mortality was 6.9% (incidence 2.8 per 100 person-years) and 57% of deaths occurred in the first six months of HAART initiation. Multivariate Cox model indicated WHO clinical stage 4 HIV infection, CD4+ cell count <50 cells/μl, bed ridden >50% a day, and TB after HAART initiation as baseline independent predictors of mortality. Additional evidence shows that regular CD4+monitoring of patients before HAART initiation as well as earlier HAART initiation decreases death, and regular clinical staging decreases TB incidence.