Dyslipidemia in People Living with HIV on Anti-Retroviral Treatment: Case of the Ambulatory Treatment Center (ATC) of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lome

Abstract

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a significant cardiovascular risk factor in patients living with HIV (PLWHIV). Few data are available in Togo. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated factors in PLWHIV on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients followed at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital’s infectious diseases department for six months. The study population consisted of any PLWHIV patient on HAART over 18 years of age who had been regularly monitored and had a serum lipid fraction assay. Results: Two hundred and eighty-four patients were included. 75.4% were women. The median age was 46 years (IQR: 39 - 52) and the median CD4 count was 461 cel/U1 (IQR: 330 - 607). Eighty-three percent of the patients had suppressed viral load. The median duration of follow-up under antiretroviral treatment antiretroviral treatment was 4.18 years (IQR: 2 - 7). The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 72.5%. HDL hypocholesterolemia (HDL-c < 40 mg/dl) was the most represented dyslipidemia in 49.6%. Body mass index, past treated tuberculosis, HAART regimen substitution, abdominal obesity, past smoking and being exposed to Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRITs) were found to be factors associated to dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Our study revealed a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients on HAART as well as associated factors. To this end, it is necessary to insist on screening for dyslipidemia before and after initiation of HAART in order to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular events in PLWHIV.