Burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors among PLHIV individuals in Davanagere: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background:  The HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic has significantly contributed to mortality rates in many countries over the past three decades. The risk of acquiring NCDs has increased with usage of ART among HIV people.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 150 PLHIV registered in the ART centres of the teaching hospitals of Davanagere. Study subjects were selected randomly and were interviewed and examined to identify CVD risk factors like NCDs, lifestyle factors, duration of ART and CD4 count. Univariant analysis was done to determine association between NCD and risk factors.

Results: Among 150 PLHIV individuals, CVD risk factors prevalence was highest (75%) in diet, followed by female’s waist-to-hip ratio (55%), hypertension (7.3%) and diabetes (5%) among PLHIV. Risk factors like diet, physical activity, anthropometric measures showed significant association (p value-0.00001 which is <0.05) in developing NCDs. Chi-square test showed significant association (p value-0.0024 which is <0.05) among risk factors like diet, BMI, W/H ratio whereas the HIV factors like ART duration, CD4 count and viral load didn’t show any significant association(p>0.05).

Conclusions: CVD risk factors prevalence like poor diet and obesity was more, despite CVD prevalence being low among PLHIV. Adequate counselling on diet and physical activity can help improve their quality of life and reduce morbidity and mortality due to CVD with continuous ART.