Lipid profile, cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in a group of AIDS patients.
BACKGROUND
Since the advent of AIDS, the anti-HIV therapy has developed significantly, including the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the disease acquired a chronic characteristic. However, after the introduction of HAART, several metabolic alterations were observed, mainly related to the lipid profile.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate and compare lipid profiles, analyze cardiovascular risk, describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in AIDS patients with or without HAART.


METHODS
Over an 18-month period, 319 patients treated at outpatient clinics in the city of São Paulo, Brazil were selected.


RESULTS
The final sample included 215 patients receiving HAART and 69 HAART-naive patients. The mean age was 39.5 years, and 60.9% were males. The main cardiovascular risk factors were smoking (27%), hypertension (18%) and family history of atherosclerosis (40%). Mean total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were higher in the HAART group than in the non-HAART group (205 vs 180 mg/dl, 51 vs 43 mg/dl, 219 vs 164 mg/dl and 101 vs 93 mg/dl respectively; p < 0.001 for all). According to the Framingham risk score, the cardiovascular risk was moderate to high in 11% of the patients receiving HAART and 4% of the HAART-naïve patients. According to the Adult Treatment Panel III definition, the metabolic syndrome was observed in 13% and 12% of the patients with or without HAART, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the mean values for total cholesterol, HDL-c and triglycerides were higher in the HAART group, a higher cardiovascular risk was not identified in the former. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was comparable in both groups.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP - Brasil. erikaferrari@uol.com.br
Erika Ferrari Rafael da
EF
Silva
Katia Cristina
KC
Bassichetto
David Salomão
DS
Lewi
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D008055:Lipids