Hypertension Among HIV/AIDS Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Drugs at Ridge Regional Hospital

Abstract

Background With improved survival after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), non-AIDS-related morbidity and mortality have come to the forefront in the management of HIV patients. HAART has been linked to the development of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease including insulin resistance and hyperlipidaemia, but its influence on hypertension requires further study. The general objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension among HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Method: The study extracted electronic data stored on HIV/AIDS patients (262) in the DHIMNS-2 from the Ridge Hospital data base from the period 2010 to 2015. Data were analysed using appropriate analytical tools. The proportion of HIV/AIDS patients that developed hypertension while on antiretroviral was analysed using descriptive statistics. The Fisher’s exact test was done to come out with the results (exact=0.678) for relationship between the mv type and hypertension because the table had figures less than 5. The association between the class of antiretroviral and hypertension was also analysed using regression with a significant level of 0.05 Results: The results showed that 63 patients out of the total 262 sample of HIV/AIDS patients who were on antiretroviral drugs from 2010 to 2015 at the Ridge Regional Hospital became hypertensive while on the antiretroviral drugs during that period. The females had a greater percentage of hypertensives whiles on the antiretroviral treatment than the males in the study, (62% and 38%) respectively. adult age category (31-45) had the highest proportion of patients being hypertensives thus 33 patients (52%). This was followed by the adult age category (41-60) with 23 patients (37%) and then the young adult's age category (18-35) which had 7 patients (11%) hypertensives. The age of participants was also significantly associated with hypertension among the HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral drugs. There was no relationship between the gender of the HIV/AIDS patients and the development of hypertension. Also, there was no association between the mv types and the development of hypertension among the patients on medication. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension among the HIV/AIDS patients was 24%. But the prevalence among the various antiretroviral drugs from the study showed the following p-values AZT/3TCIEFV (p<034), AZT/3TCINVP (p<O.14), AZT/3TCINPC (p<O.75), TDF/3TCINVP (1'<0.07), D4T/3TCINVP (p>0.02) and AZT/3TC (p<O.95). Hypertension was prevalent among patients on Stavudine/Lamivudine/Niverapine class of antiretroviral drugs with a p value p>002. Female participants also had the highest prevalence of hypertension (62%) of the total 63 hypertensives in the study. Also, middle age adults reported the highest proportion of hypertension (52%). Meanwhile the association between gender and the development of hypertension as well as mv type and the development of hypertension among the patients on medication were not significant with p-values of p<O.135 and p<0.678 respectively. The study also showed a significant association between age groups and the development of hypertension among the HIV / AIDS patients in the study (p>0. 00 1).