Relationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study
Date
2021-01-20
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Limited information on the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) on vascular function
in South Africans of African descent living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is available.
The relationship between ART, vascular function and cardiovascular risk factors in South Africans
of African ancestry with HIV was therefore studied. This cross-sectional study recruited 146 HIVpositive
individuals on ART (HIV+ART+), 163 HIV-positive individuals not on ART (HIV+ART�����)
and 171 individuals without HIV (HIV�����) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Flowmediated
dilation (FMD) test was performed to assess endothelial function. Anthropometry and
blood pressure parameters were measured. Lipid profile, glycaemic indices, serum creatinine as well
as CD4 count and viral load were assayed in blood. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was
determined as a marker of cardiovascular risk. Obesity and albuminuria were positively associated
with HIV, and HIV+ART+ participants had significantly higher HDL cholesterol. Dyslipidaemia
markers were significantly higher in hypertensive HIV+ART+ participants compared with the controls
(HIV+ART����� and HIV����� participants). FMD was not different between HIV+ART+ participants and
the controls. Moreover, HIV+ART+ participants with higher FMD showed lower total cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol comparable to that of HIV����� and HIV+ART����� participants. A positive relationship
between FMD and CD4 count was observed in HIV+ART+ participants. In conclusion, antiretroviral
treatment was associated with cardiovascular risk factors, particularly dyslipidaemia, in hypertensive
South Africans of African ancestry with HIV. Although, ART was not associated with endothelial
dysfunction, flow-mediated dilatation was positively associated with CD4 count in HIV-positive
participants on ART.
Description
CITATION: Nkeh-Chungag, B.N.; Goswami, N.; Engwa, G.A.;
Sewani-Rusike, C.R.; Mbombela, V.;.Webster, I.; De Boever, P.; Kessler, H.H.; Stelzl, E.; Strijdom, H. Relationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.
J. Clin. Med. 2020, 10, 392.
doi.10.3390/jcm10030392
The original publication is available at: mdpi.com
The original publication is available at: mdpi.com
Keywords
HIV (Viruses), Antiretroviral agents, Cardiovascular system -- Diseases, Endothelial cells, Obese-hyperglycemic syndrome, Hypertension
Citation
Nkeh-Chungag, B.N.; Goswami, N.; Engwa, G.A.;
Sewani-Rusike, C.R.; Mbombela, V.;.Webster, I.; De Boever, P.; Kessler, H.H.; Stelzl, E.; Strijdom, H. Relationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.
J. Clin. Med. 2020, 10, 392.
doi.10.3390/jcm10030392