Morbidity In Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients Research Articles

A Systematic Review of How To Reduce Morbidity in HIV Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to cause cardiovascular diseases in patients infected with HIV. The pathology ranges from atherosclerosis to cardiomyopathy. There are several factors that could possibly cause cardiovascular diseases in the HIV population, including malnutrition and vitamin deficiency (for example, thiamine, B12, and zinc deficiencies); a lifestyle including increased prevalence of alcoholism and illicit drug usage; viral infection; and medication combinations that could cause sudden cardiac deaths. Cardiovascular diseases contribute to major morbidity in these populations and could have a reflection on the global financial burden, thus emphasizing the importance of prevention strategies. In this article, we focused on several factors that contribute to coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases. We found that HIV has direct and indirect effects on the development of coronary artery diseases; furthermore, antiretroviral therapy adds to the deleterious effects of HIV and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We further assessed the causal relationships and associations to understand the research gaps. In conclusion, this paper acknowledges and summarizes the current management strategies and the need to develop future strategies focusing on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and tailoring the regimens according to the patient's clinical and socio-economic background.

Prevalence and pattern of inflammatory dermatoses and skin cancers in highly active antiretroviral therapy-experienced and highly active antiretroviral therapy-naive patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Introduction: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces morbidity, mortality and prolong life in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Only a few studies have compared the prevalence and pattern of inflammatory dermatoses and skin cancers in HAART-naive and HAART-experienced HIV-infected patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of inflammatory dermatoses and skin cancers in HAART-experienced and HAART-naive patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study that involved 330 HAART-experienced patients and 330 HAART-naive patients. Patients were examined for inflammatory dermatoses and skin cancers. Skin biopsies were done where applicable for diagnostic accuracy. Results: The mean age of the HAART-experienced group and HAART-naive group was 42.39 ± 10.1 years and 39.9 ± 11.2 years, respectively. The male-to-female ratio of the HAART-naive and HAART-experienced population was 1.9:1 and 3:1, respectively. The median CD4 count of the HAART-naive group was significantly lower than the HAART-experienced group (275.5 vs. 487 cells/μ P ≤ 0.01). Skin cancers were present in 1.8% of the HAART-naive group but absent in HAART-experienced patients (P ≤ 0.01). The prevalence of inflammatory dermatoses was 36 (10.9%) in the HAART-naive group and 8 (2.4%) in the HAART-experienced group (P Conclusion: Inflammatory dermatoses and skin malignancies were more common in HAART-naive HIV-infected patients compared to HAART-experienced patients. HAART may reduce the cutaneous morbidity in HIV patients.

Ocular findings in human immunodeficiency virus patients in Washington, DC

The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of ocular diseases in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in Washington, DC in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This was a cross-sectional study of patients with HIV who were seen by the ophthalmology consultation service between September 2003 and May 2011 at a single academic institution in Washington, DC. Medical history and ophthalmic findings were reviewed. Patients with complete laboratory data dated within 3 months of their presenting eye examination were included. Descriptive statistics were performed. The records of 151 patients were included in the final analysis. All patients had complete laboratory data dated within 3 months of their presenting eye examination. Sixty-eight (45 %) patients and fifty-eight (50 %) of those with a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) were diagnosed with an HIV-related ophthalmic disease. The leading anterior segment disease was herpes zoster ophthalmicus and the leading posterior segment disease was HIV retinopathy. Of the 151 included patients, 78 (52 %) were receiving HAART at the time of the examination. Thirty-one (42 %) of those not receiving HAART were diagnosed with an HIV-related ophthalmic disease. In this study, we find that the overall prevalence of ocular disease has decreased since the introduction of HAART. However, HIV patients continue to be predisposed to developing ophthalmic disease at higher rates than the general population. Visual dysfunction remains an important source of morbidity in HIV patients, particularly in those with AIDS. Measures for improvement include increased communication between infectious disease specialists and ophthalmologists to ensure adherence to HAART and routine eye examinations.