title: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among HIV-infected patients in Ghana: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in HIV-infected patients is very limited in the Ghanaian setting and may vary across the globe by the different study populations and criteria used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the prevalence of MetS among HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study recruited 433 HIV-infected patients (294 on HAART and 139 HAART-naïve) from the period of February 2013 to December 2013. Information on the demographic, clinical, anthropometric characteristics were obtained and lipid profile for each patient was assessed. MetS was assessed based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of MetS was 24.5% according to WHO criteria, 48.3% by NCEP-ATP III criteria, and 42.3% by IDF criteria. In general, participants on HAART were significantly associated with higher prevalence of MetS compared to those without HAART (P < 0.05) irrespective of the criteria used. Prevalence of clustering components of MetS was significantly higher among those on HAART when risk scores of 2 and above were used compared with those not on HAART (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAART recipient developed MetS as indicated by dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and abnormal body fat. It is incumbent on health giver to incorporate MetS assessment as a part of treatment and management plan in patients receiving HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Obirikorang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osei-Yeboah
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Enoch Anto
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Odame
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asare
keywords: HIV patient; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; metabolic syndrome; prevalence