Prevalence of Hyperlipidemia and Associated Factors Among People Living With HIV Attending Care at Rugazi Health Center IV, Rubirizi District South-Western Uganda

THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, its long-term use is increasingly associated with metabolic complications, particularly hyperlipidemia, a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease. This study therefore assessed the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and its associated factors among people living with HIV receiving care at Rugazi Health Centre IV in Rubirizi District, South-Western Uganda. MAJOR FINDINGS: The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was found to be 11.7%. Physical activity and having high blood pressure were the factors found to be significantly associated with the reduction and increase of hyperlipidemia respectively. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: There was a low prevalence of hyperlipidemia among people living with HIV as compared to several studies published in similar populations. Regular physical activity interventions, routine lipid measurement, and blood pressure screening should be exclusively integrated within the HIV care system among patients receiving ART.