HIV and metabolic syndrome: a comparison with the general population.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in HIV-positive patients with that from a sample of a general Italian population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A total of 1263 HIV-infected patients 18 years of age or older were recruited in 18 centers for infectious diseases in northern and central Italy. Controls were 2051 subjects aged 25 to 74 years representative of the residents of Monza, a town in Milan province, who were enrolled in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni study.


RESULTS
The prevalence of MS in the HIV group was 20.8%, whereas in the control group, it was only 15.8%, with the difference being statistically significant. The age- and gender-adjusted risk of having MS in HIV-infected patients was twice as great as that in controls. Compared with controls, HIV-infected patients had a greater prevalence of the impaired fasting glucose, increased plasma triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol components. MS prevalence was similar in treated and never-treated HIV-infected patients, and so were the various MS components.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of MS is greater in HIV-infected patients compared with the general population because of a greater prevalence of lipid and glucose abnormalities. The prevalence of MS and its components is similar in treated and untreated HIV-positive patients.
Bonfanti
Paolo
P
Department of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Via G.B. Grassi 44, 20157 Milan, Italy. paolo.bonfanti@tin.it
Giannattasio
Cristina
C
Ricci
Elena
E
Facchetti
Rita
R
Rosella
Elena
E
Franzetti
Marzia
M
Cordier
Laura
L
Pusterla
Luigi
L
Bombelli
Michele
M
Sega
Roberto
R
Quirino
Tiziana
T
Mancia
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents