Metabolic syndrome among HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy attending the art clinic at Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction The continuing evolution of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in dramatic reductions in HIV-associated morbidity and mortality. However, the availability of newer ART regimes has been associated with increased risk of non-communicable co-morbidities including metabolic syndrome. We therefore determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy attending the ART clinic at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.

Methods and Materials A cross sectional study at the Fort Portal regional referral hospital ART clinic with 210 participants (115 ART experienced and 95 were ART naïve) was conducted. We determined the Body Mass Index (BMI), serumfasting glucose levels and lipid profiles of the participants. Data was analysed using the STATA14 software package for windows. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise categorical data in frequencies and continuous variables into mean and standard deviation. Bivariate analysis was done using a paired t-test and chi square and multivariable analysis was done using logistic regression. Statistical significance was measure at p < 0.05.

Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the ART experienced respondents was 16.5% and within the ART naïve it was 7.4%. Among them females where14/115(12.17%) in the ART experienced and 5/7(71.42%) among the ART naïve respondents. The mean age was 45+/-6.12 for ART experienced respondents and 35+/-5.25 among the ART naive and these had a high likelihood of having metabolic syndrome however this was not statistically significant. Among the ART experienced respondents, metabolic syndrome was associated with the duration on ART where 14/115(15.38%) had spent more than five years on ART and11/115(24.44%) where initiated on TDF/3TC/EFV.

Conclusion Findings from this study showed that ART experienced respondents who were of advanced age and had spent more than five years on treatment had a high likelihood of having metabolic syndrome compared with the ART naïve respondents.

Recommendation The lipid profile, Serum glucose levels and Body mass index of respondents on ART should always be monitored periodically whenever they come for review before receiving their next drugs refill and all HIV positive respondents intending to be started on ART treatment, there lipid profile, Serum glucose levels and Body mass index should always be measured before starting the therapy.