title: Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease risk profiles of patients attending an HIV treatment clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe.
abstract: The chronic inflammation induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contributes to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in HIV-infected individuals. HIV-infected patients generally benefit from being treated with antiretroviral drugs, but some antiretroviral agents have side effects, such as dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. There is general consensus that antiretroviral drugs induce a long-term risk of CHD, although the levels of that risk are somewhat controversial. The intention of this cross-sectional study was to describe the lipid profile and the long-term risk of CHD among HIV-positive outpatients at an HIV treatment clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe. Two hundred and fifteen patients were investigated (females n=165, mean age 39.8 years; males n=50; mean age 42.0 years). Thirty of the individuals were antiretroviral-naïve and 185 had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for a mean 3.9±3.4 years. All participants had average lipid and glucose values within normal ranges, but there was a small difference between the ART and ART-for total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Those on a combination of D4T or ZDV/NVP/3TC and PI-based ART were on average oldest and had the highest TC levels. Framingham risk showed 1.4% prevalence of high CHD risk within the next ten years. After univariate analysis age, sex, TC/HDL ratio, HDL, economic earnings and systolic BP were associated with medium to high risk of CHD. After multivariate regression analysis and adjusting for age or sex only age, sex and economic earnings were associated with medium to high risk of CHD. There is small risk of developing CHD, during the next decade in HIV infected patients at an HIV treatment clinic in Harare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Zimbabwe ; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University in Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Danai Tavonga
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Vitaris
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kodogo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Kudzai Fortunate Vongai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chokuona
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Exnevia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oektedalen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University in Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Babill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stray-Pedersen
keywords: antiretroviral therapy; coronary heart disease risk; dyslipidemia; human immunodeficiency virus