The Prevalence of Hypertension and its association with HIV related factors in HIV patients on ART, Bagamoyo district, Eastern Tanzania Hypertension in adult HIV patients on ART

Abstract

Abstract

Background

Individuals living with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications, including hypertension..We, therefore, assess the prevalence of hypertension and its association to HIV related factors in HIV patients on ART, in Bagamoyo district eastern Tanzania.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving adult HIV-infected individuals on ART, consecutively enrolled from two selected care and treatment clinics, between March and May 2019.  Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure  ? 140mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ?90mmHg or being on-ant hypertensive medication regardless of blood pressure measurement on the day of enrolment. Logistic regression was used for assessing the association.

Results

We investigated 328 adult HIV patients on ART, 64.6% were female, 92.68% on non-protease inhibitors medication and 14% had a history of TB in the past 5 years. The overall prevalence of hypertension in adult HIV patients on ART was 29.3% and it was significant and positively associated with increasing age, obesity, family history of hypertension, current TB/HIV co-infection, and non-protease inhibitors. Both duration since HIV diagnosed, recent CD4+cell count and history of TB in the past 5 years were not associated with increasing odds of having hypertension.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hypertension in HIV patients on ART was higher and it was associated with increasing age, obesity and exposure to non-protease inhibitors. Regular monitoring of blood pressure, anthropometrics, and ART drug toxicity are crucial among HIV patients attending CTC.