Prevalence of non-communicable diseases among individuals with HIV infection by antiretroviral therapy status in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

BACKGROUND: Long-term antiretroviral therapy has modified the clinical course of HIV infection to a chronic condition associated with increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Information is scant, from sub-Saharan Africa, on the prevalence of NCDs and associated factors among individuals on ART. METHODOLOGY: We consecutively enrolled individuals with HIV infection who were ART naïve and those on ART for ≥5 years (LTART) attending health facilities in Dar es Salaam. Participant's blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood glucose were recorded. Participants with impaired fasting blood glucose underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. A venous blood sample was sent to the lab for biochemical tests. Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to determine associations between variables. RESULTS: Overall, 612 individuals with HIV infection were enrolled, half of whom were ART naïve. Females comprised 71.9% and 68.0% of participants in the LTART and ART naïve study arms, respectively, p = 0.290. The mean age (±SD) was 44.9 ± 12.7 years and 37.5 ± 11.8 years among LTART and ART naïve participants, respectively, p<0.001. Hypertension was documented in 25.2% in those on LTART compared to 6.9% among ART naïve subjects, p<0.001. Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 22.9% and 4.6% among LTART compared to ART naïve subjects, p<0.001. Diabetes mellitus was detected in 17.0% of those on LTART compared to 3.9% ART naïve participants, p<0.001. Hypercholesterolemia was found in 30.4% of individuals on LTART compared to 16.7% of ART naïve subjects, p<0.001, and hypertriglyceridemia was found in 16.0% of participants on LTART compared to 9.5% of ART naïve, p = 0.015. LTART use, age ≥40 years, history of smoking, and body mass index were independently associated with NCDs. CONCLUSION: Hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were associated with long-term use of antiretroviral drugs.