Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Lipid abnormalities are very common among HIV patients particularly those on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Infection with HIV causes decline in HDL cholesterol and a raise in triglyceride. Treatment with HAART causes Dyslipidaemia in a variety of ways.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with Dyslipidaemia among HAART naïve and HAART exposed HIV patients.

Methodology: Three hundred consented HIV infected patients were recruited for the study. Half were HAART naïve and the other half were on HAART. Anthropometric indices were done. Total serum cholesterol and triglyceride were estimated using enzymatic reactions. The estimation of HDL was by precipitation method while LDL was calculated using Friedewald formula. Dyslipidaemia was assessed using ATP III guideline.

Results: The mean age for the HAART exposed group was 35.7±10.0 years while that for the HAART naive was 34.0±9.7 years. The prevalence of Dyslipidaemia among HAART exposed was 70 and 58% among HAART naïve P=0.03. Total prevalence among all was 64%. Elevated total cholesterol was found among 44 and 7.3% respectively (P<0.000), low HDL was found among 40 and 50.7% respectively (P=0.064), raised triglyceride occurred in 26.7 and 10.7% respectively (P<0.000), elevated LDL occurred in 6 and 1.3% respectively (P=0.032). Low HDL was the most predominant dyslipidaemia, 70.3 and 50.7% among all participants and among HAART naïve respectively. Among HAART exposed, it was elevated total cholesterol 44%. Exposure to HAART, Male gender, Age, hypertension, elevated FPG were found to be significantly associated with the development of Dyslipidaemia (P<0.05). Only hypertension was found to be an independent predictor for the development of Dyslipidaemia P=0.019 (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.179–6.354).

Conclusion: Infection with HIV and exposure to HAART cause dyslipidaemia, which is a major cardiovascular risk factor among these patients. Lifestyle and statin therapy should be part of management.

Key words: HIV, Dyslipidaemia, Kano