Hypertension and associated factors in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Burundi: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Nowadays, the life expectancy of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and people in general population, are comparable. Hypertension is a major public health issue in Africa, largely underdiagnosed. In addition, higher rates of hypertension are reported in HIV-infected persons, especially when under anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among HIV-infected adults in Burundi, treated by ART.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected subjects older than age of 20, managed in 5 healthcare centers of people living with HIV (PLWH). The questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of the World Health Organization STEPWISE survey were used. Blood pressure was measured according to the ESC 2018 recommendations. Results: 1250 HIV-infected patients were included (18.4% men), mean age 42.8±7.4 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 17.4% (95% CI: 13.2-22.1). Almost 47.25 % of HIV patients with hypertension were previously undiagnosed. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with HTN were overweight (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.46-5.62) and obesity (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.27-5.55), longer duration of HIV infection: ≥ 10 years (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.14-3.20), diabetes (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.37-3. 32) and age (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.09-1.14).ConclusionsDespite their young age, almost 20% of patients with ART-treated HIV had hypertension, among whom 50% were undiagnosed. Blood pressure monitoring is of major importance among these patients, especially among those identified at high-risk, with prompt life- and disability-saving interventions.