What is it about?
Within a group of patients living with HIV who had received antiretroviral therapy for more than 10 years at an urban HIV clinic in Kampala, we found that one in four (24.4%) had hypertension. When we followed up with the patients for almost 8 years, 15.83% developed hypertension. The rates of hypertension were higher than has been reported in the same cohort eight years ago (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(15)70045-8/fulltext) In our study, hypertension was more common in males and in participants who were older, had diabetes mellitus, were obese, had high cholesterol, and those with prior exposure to stavudine, or nevirapine. Participants who were older, with obesity or renal insufficiency, were likely to develop hypertension during follow-up.
Featured Image
Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our study suggests that hypertension is common in people living with HIV and will probably increase with the ageing population. In addition, we also found that the prevalence and incidence of hypertension have increased over time in the same cohort. Therefore the current HIV systems must integrate screening and treatment for cardiovascular diseases associated with chronic ART exposure and/or ageing.
Perspectives
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Prevalence and incidence of hypertension in a heavily treatment-experienced cohort of people living with HIV in Uganda, PLoS ONE, February 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282001.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page