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

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract&#x0D;
Background&#x0D;
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.&#x0D;
Methods &#x0D;
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.&#x0D;
Results&#x0D;
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.&#x0D;
Conclusion &#x0D;
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.&#x0D;
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