What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its criteria among adults living with HIV in Panama.

April 17, 2026Open Access

Cardiometabolic Status of Adults Living with HIV in Panama—Baseline Results of the Colón C3 Study

Key Points

The study aims to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its criteria among adults living with HIV in Panama.
Enrolled 659 adults living with HIV aged ≥18 years from an antiretroviral therapy clinic.
Conducted computer-assisted surveys on demographics and social determinants of health.
Assessed body composition and collected fasting blood samples for various health indicators.
Defined metabolic syndrome using NCEP-R ATP-III criteria and stratified analyses by sex.
Overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38.6%, higher than the Americas' average of 30.4%.
Hypoalphalipoproteinemia (59.6%) and hypertension (52.6%) were the most prevalent criteria.
Women had significantly higher body fat mass and BMI compared to men.
Mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was 7.2 mg/L, indicating ongoing inflammation despite treatment.
High rates of socioeconomic vulnerabilities, food insecurity, and housing instability were observed.

Abstract

Background. Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) have become a major health concern among adults living with HIV (ALWH) as antiretroviral therapy (ART) extends life expectancy. Metabolic syndrome (MetS)—a cluster of abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypoalphalipoproteinemia—is a key predictor of CMD risk. Despite high HIV prevalence in Panama, data on MetS among ALWH are scarce. Thus, the Colón C3 Study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its criteria in a large cohort of ALWH in Colón, Panama. Methods. Between April–December 2024, 659 ALWH aged ≥18 years were enrolled at the province’s sole ART Clinic (78.1% of active patients). Participants completed a computer-assisted survey on demographics and social determinants of health (SDoH), underwent anthropometry and body composition assessment, and provided ≥8 h fasting blood samples for glucose, lipid profiles, HbA1c, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). MetS was defined using NCEP-R ATP-III criteria, and analyses were stratified by sex. Results. Mean age was 43.9 (range 18–79) years; 55% were female, and 51% identified as Black/Afro-Caribbean. The overall prevalence of MetS was 38.6% (binomial 95% CI 34.5%, 42.9%), exceeding pooled estimates for ALWH in the Americas (30.4%). Among individual criteria, hypoalphalipoproteinemia (59.6%) and hypertension (52.6%) were most prevalent, followed by abdominal obesity (45.2%), hyperglycemia (33.5%), and hypertriglyceridemia (22.5%). Women exhibited significantly higher body fat mass and BMI than men. Mean hsCRP was 7.2 mg/L, indicating persistent inflammation despite virologic suppression. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities, food insecurity (30%), and housing instability (>40%) were common. Conclusions. Findings reveal a substantial cardiometabolic burden among ALWH in Colón and underscore the need for integrated HIV–CMD care models, earlier screening, and natal sex–responsive interventions. The results provide foundational evidence for improving long-term, equitable cardiometabolic outcomes in HIV care across Panama and the broader Latin American region.

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Cite This Study

Castillo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e1cf1b5cdc762e9d857fa4 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci14020200

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