title: Magnitude and risk factors of non-communicable diseases among people living with HIV in Tanzania: a cross sectional study from Mbeya and Dar es Salaam regions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV and Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are major problem of public health importance in developing countries. This study was conducted to explore and establish information on the magnitude, distribution of NCDs risk factors among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) which is scarce in Tanzania.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted to PLWHIV from 12 care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam and Mbeya regions from October 2011 to February 2012. Data on demographic characteristics, NCD risk factors including behavioral, biochemical tests and physical measurements was collected from PLWHIV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 754 PLWHIV recruited, 671(89.0%) consented to participate in the study and 354/671(52.8%) were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The following NCD risk factors: raised blood levels of low density lipoprotein (61.3% vs 38.7%, p < 0.001) total cholesterol (TC) (71.6% vs 28.4%, p < 0.001) and triglyceride (67.0% vs 33.0%, p = 0.001) as well as overweight/obesity (61.1% vs 38.9%, p = 0.010), abnormal waist circumference (61.7% vs 38.3%, p < 0.001) and being aged >40 years (63.3% vs 36.7%, p < 0.001) were more prevalent among PLWHIV on ART than ART naïve. The prevalence of Diabetes mellitus among PLWHIV was 4.2% and was slightly high among those ART naïve (4.7% vs 3.7%). The prevalence of hypertension was 26.2% and was high among those on ART (30.0% vs 21.9%, p = 0.010). Being aged >40 years (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.37-4.63), abnormal waist circumference (AOR = 2.37 95% CI 1.13-5.00), overweight/obesity (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.26-5.84) and male sex (AOR = 1.17, 1.02-4.20) were the predictors of hypertension among patients on ART while raised TC (AOR = 1.47 (1.01-2.21) and being aged >40 years (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI 2.06-5.70) were predictors for hypertension among ART naïve patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has revealed that the magnitude of NCD risk factors is significantly higher among PLWHIV on ART than those not on ART. Initiating and strengthening of interventions for minimizing preventable NCD risks should be considered when initiating ART among PLWHIV. Regular monitoring of NCD risk factors is of paramount importance among ART patients.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research-Tukuyu Center, P,O, Box 538, Tukuyu, Mbeya, Tanzania. gkagaruki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gibson B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Kagaruki
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mayige
authors.forename: Ester S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ngadaya
authors.forename: Godfather D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kimaro
authors.forename: Akili K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kalinga
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kilale
authors.forename: Amos M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kahwa
authors.forename: Godlisten S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Materu
authors.forename: Sayoki G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mfinanga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol