The Evaluation of Lipid Profile in HIV/AIDS Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Abnormal lipids have being associated with the adverse effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Information in these areas is needed, to enhance the proper and adequate management of patients on antiretroviral therapies. This study was carried out to determine the levels of lipid profile in HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and as well ascertain the degree of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Method: A hospital base case-control study was carried out in October, 2020 to October, 2021, and a total of 153 subjects were involved in the study, and they were divided into three groups: the control group (which consist of apparently healthy subjects), the study group 1 (consist HIV positive subject not on ART) and study group 2 (consist of HIV/Aids patients on ART). The lipid profile was analyzed using enzyme linked spectrophotometric methods. Result: In the study, increase in Triglyceride (TG) and very low density Lipoprotein (VLDL-C) were observed with P<0.001in the study group 2 compared with the control group (apparently healthy subject); there was no significant difference observed in the study group 1 when compared with the control group P>0.05, for HDL-C, TC and LDC-C; The mean values of the control group for Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), HDL-C and VLDL-C are: 3.97± 0.69, 1.02± 0.31, 2.88± 0.29, 0.75± 0.51 and 0.26mmol/L respectively. The mean values of the study group 1 for Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C are 3.02± 0.79, 2.67± 0.93, 1.98± 0.26, 0.85± 0.72 and 0.58± 0.07mmol/L respectively. The values for study group 2 are Total Cholesterol 2.54± 1.30mmol/L. Triglyceride is 3.86± 0.74mmol, HDL-C is 1.24± 0.34mmol/L, and LDL-C is 1.10±1.08mmol/L and 0.17± 0.12mmol/L for VLDL-C. Conclusion: The findings in this study shows elevation of some lipids in HIV/AIDS Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy, which suggests that it could be due to the adverse effects of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).