Cardiovascular Risk among People Living with HIV in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a growing concern among people living with HIV (PLHIV) due to various risk factors and the long-term effects of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to assess the cardiovascular risk among PLHIV in the Western Region of Ghana in 2022. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to estimate cardiovascular risk among PLHIV in Ghana's Western Region in 2022. Data from medical records was collected from an urban and a rural hospital. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to estimate 10-year cardiovascular risk. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, correlation between lab-based FRS and body mass index (BMI)-based FRS, health characteristics by settlement type and factors associated with High FRS were analysed. Results: A total of 322 PLHIV was enrolled for this study, with a majority being female (76.1%) and aged 36-45 years (37.0%). Prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were dyslipidemia (28%), hypertension (26.3%), and diabetes (19.3%), while obesity (7.5%) and smoking (2.2%) were less prevalent. The lab-based FRS categorized 5.9% of participants as having a high cardiovascular risk. In comparison, the BMI-based FRS classified 12.1% in the high-risk category. There was a significant correlation between the lab-based FRS and BMI-based FRS. Employment status and religion were significant factors associated with cardiovascular risk. Conclusion: Cardiovascular diseases is a growing concern among PLHIV due to various risk factors and the longterm effects of HIV and ART. The findings of this study could contribute to improve cardiovascular health outcomes in PLHIV and provide a model for addressing comorbidities in resource-limited settings.