Key result
HIV in children is linked to a ~10-fold higher prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction.
Why the study?
The prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction and its relationship with age and disease stage among children living with HIV at a tertiary health facility in Sokoto, Nigeria, needed to be determined.
Does HIV infection increase the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction compared to uninfected peers in children aged 18 months to 15 years?
Cross-Sectional (n=180)
No
Does HIV infection increase the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction compared to uninfected peers in children aged 18 months to 15 years?
Children living with HIV in north-western Nigeria exhibit a nearly tenfold higher prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (32.2% vs 3.3%) than uninfected peers, supporting routine echocardiographic screening in this population.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
HIV-associated LV systolic dysfunction prevalence signals need for clinical vigilance in children; leaves open prospective validation before screening adoption.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and its relationship with age and disease stage among children living with HIV at a tertiary health facility in Sokoto, Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: The antiretroviral therapy and paediatric outpatient clinics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, north-western Nigeria, between June and October 2021. Methodology: Ninety eligible children living with HIV, aged 18 months to 15 years, and an equal number of age- and gender-matched uninfected peers were recruited using systematic random sampling. M-mode echocardiographic parameters, ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), were used to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Results: A total of 180 children (90 HIV-infected and 90 uninfected) were recruited into the study, with a 100% response rate. The prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction among HIV-infected participants was 32.2%, compared with 3.3% among their uninfected peers (P < 0.01). The associations of LV systolic dysfunction with age and disease stage (clinical and immunological) among HIV-infected participants (ART-exposed and ART-naïve) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction was relatively high among children living with HIV attending UDUTH, supporting the inclusion of echocardiography in their routine care.
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Lukman et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Pediatric HIV infection (n=180). HIV infection (ART-exposed and ART-naive) vs. Age- and gender-matched HIV-uninfected peers was evaluated on Prevalence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction assessed by M-mode echocardiographic ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) (p=< 0.01). Children living with HIV had a higher prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction compared with uninfected peers.
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