DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i01.018

Pages: 98-103

This study was proposed to assess the risk factors and impact of HAART on blood pressure in HIV seropositive patients. Total 300 HIV sero-positive cases (150 treatment naïve and 150 cases taking HAART); above 18 years of age were recruited. Cases having ischaemic, rheumatic or congenital heart diseases prior to diagnosis of HIV infection, chronic renal failure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction were excluded from the study. Out of 300 HIV sero-positives, 59/300 (19.67%) were found to be hypertensive. The hypertensives were significantly older in age than normotensives (38.89±7.95 years vs. 32.95±7.33 years, p<0.05). Systolic (SBP) as well as diastolic blood pressure(DBP), BMI and lipid parameters [triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipo proteins (LDL)] were significantly higher in hypertensive group. HDL levels were also significantly lower in hypertensives. (p<0.05 for each). High BMI, high TG, high TC, high LDL and low HDL were significantly associated with HTN (p<0.05 for each). Both SBP and DBP had statistically significant correlation with the time since detection of HIV sero-positive status and with the traditional risk factors of HTN (age, BMI, TG, HDL, LDL, and TC) (p<0.05 for each). Mean CD4 count were found to be lower in hypertensives (377.27±189.12 cells /mm3 v/s 437.44±248.04 cells /mm3) (p>0.05). CD4 count did not have a significant correlation with either SBP or DBP (p>0.05). Among 150 HIV cases taking HAART, thirty two were hypertensive and rest 118 cases were normotensive. HAART was not associated with hypertension. This study concluded that hypertension in HIV population is probably associated with the duration of HIV infection, aging, being overweight (BMI>25kg/m2) and abnormal lipid levels. Hypertension did not seem to be associated with use of any anti retro viral drug (HAART).