title: Is metabolic syndrome associated to HIV infection per se? Results from the HERMES study.
abstract: HERMES is a prospective study, including all treatment-naïve patients attending scheduled visits at hospitals in the CISAI group in 2007. The present cross-sectional analysis aims to assess the baseline prevalence and characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in a population of HIV-positive treatment-naïve patients. MS was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) definitions. A total of 292 subjects were enrolled, median age was 37 years, 75% of them were males. The prevalence of MS was 12.3%. The most frequent trio of abnormalities that led to the diagnosis of MS was high blood pressure, triglycerides and HDL. Univariate analysis showed that MS was associated with the following variables: age, education, physical activity, advanced HIV disease (CDC stage C or HIV-RNA >100,000 copies + CD4 <100 cells/mm(3)). Higher educational levels remained protectively associated with MS in multivariate analysis. A higher risk of MS was also associated with advanced HIV disease. Actually, treatment-naïve HIV-positive patients in an advanced stage of the disease have a higher prevalence of abnormal levels of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and blood glucose than those at a less advanced stage. These findings of the HERMES study suggest, therefore, that HIV infection per se is associated to MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, via G.B. Grassi, 44, 20157 Milano, Italy. bonfanti.paolo@hsacco.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: Giuseppe L V
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: De Socio
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franzetti
authors.forename: Canio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penco
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orofino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Menzaghi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magni
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome