Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Associated Factors Among Adults Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Treatment in Selected Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Hypertension significantly increases the risk of heart, brain, and renal diseases and is one of the leading causes of death and disease worldwide. It is a major comorbidity among HIV-positive people. There have been limited attempts to detect hypertension and its related variables in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment, notably in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The current study intended to examine the incidence of hypertension and related variables among adults aged 18 and over living with HIV on ART at selected public referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 411 HIV-positive individuals aged 18 on ART at Alert and St. Peter’s Specialized Hospitals. The research was conducted between December 15, 2021, and January 20, 2022, using an interviewer administered standardized questionnaire. Epi-Info version 7.0 was used to enter and code the collected data, which was subsequently exported to SPSS version 23.0. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify associated variables.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension among people with HIV on ART was 37.5% (95% CI: 32.8–42.5). Age groups 35–50 years (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.13–4.21), alcohol consumption (AOR: 5.58; 95% CI: 2.92–10.65), no physical exercise (AOR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.06–5.21), family history of hypertension (AOR: 4.39, 95% CI: 2.48–7.76), duration of ART (AOR: 3.13; 95% CI: 1.20–8.12), low CD4 count (AOR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.04–3.37), and body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg/m² (AOR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.33–4.25) were factors associated with hypertension among HIV patients on ART.

Conclusion and Recommendation

According to this study, hypertension is prevalent in HIV-positive people. Factors related with hypertension in PLHIV include alcohol intake, lack of physical activity, age 35–50 years, family history of hypertension, ART duration, low CD4 count, and BMI ≥25kg/m². As a result, health education on the significance of keeping a healthy lifestyle can be effective in preventing and treating hypertension in HIV patients.

Keywords:

• Hypertension
• PLHIV
• ART
• associated factors
• Addis Ababa

Abbreviations

AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome; AOR, Adjusted odds ratio; ART, Anti-retroviral therapy; ARV, Antiretroviral; ATV, Atazanavir; AZT, Zidovudine; BMI, Body mass index; CVDs, Cardiovascular diseases; CD4, Cluster of differentiation 4; CI, Confidence Interval; COR, Crude odds ratio; DM, Diabetes Mellitus; DBP, Diastolic blood pressure; D4T, Stavudine; EFV, Efavirenz; FMOH, Federal Ministry of Health; HAART, Highly Active Anti-viral Therapy; HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; NCDs; Non-communicable diseases; OR, Odds ratio; OI, Opportunistic infection; PLHIV, People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus; PH, Public Health; SPHMMC, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College; SPSH, Saint Peter’s Specialized Hospital; SSA, Sub-Saharan Africa; SBP, Systolic blood pressure; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Sciences; TPA, Total physical activity; WC, Waist Circumference; WHO, World Health Organization; WHR, Waist-to-hip ratio.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used in this work are accessible upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) for funding this study and giving the ethical clearance. We would also like to thank all the data collectors and study participants in this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this work.