Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021;32(6):320-326.
doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2020-065. Epub 2021 May 12.

Clinical and echocardiographic findings in a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected adults in Enugu, Nigeria

Paschal O Njoku  1 , Emmanuel C Ejim  2 , Benedict C Anisiuba  2 , Samuel O Ike  2 , Basden J Onwubere  2
Affiliations

Clinical and echocardiographic findings in a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected adults in Enugu, Nigeria

Paschal O Njoku et al. Cardiovasc J Afr. 2021.

Abstract

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are implicated in cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic findings in HIV-infected adults.

Methods: One hundred HIV subjects on HAART, 100 HAART-naïve patients and 100 controls were recruited in this cross-sectional study.

Results: Mean CD4 cell count was significantly higher in the HAART-exposed (408.43 ± 221.62) than the HAART-naïve groups (250.06 ± 154.26) (p < 0.001). Weight loss (49%), skin lesions (14%), body weakness (24%), oral thrush (10%) and lymphadenopathy (10%) were more prevalent in HAART-naïve patients (p < 0.05). Dimensions of aortic root (2.71 cm), left atrium (3.27 cm) and left ventricular mass index (79.95) were significantly higher in HIV-positive subjects on HAART (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Clinical features of HIV and the CD4 nadir were more prevalent in the HIV-positive, HAART-naïve subjects. Dimensions of the aortic root, left atrium and left ventricle were relatively larger in the HAART-exposed patients while wall thickness and ejection fraction were higher in the HAART-naïve subjects.

Keywords: CD4 cell; antiretroviral therapy; cardiovascular; dimension; echocardiography; human immunodeficiency virus.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age distribution of the study groups.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage of individuals and their mean CD4 counts in HIV-positive groups on HAART and HIV-positive, HAART-naïve groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. UNAIDS. Press release: new survey results indicate that Nigeria has an HIV prevalence of 1.4%. Available at: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatement... .
    1. The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 2019 Annual Report to Congress. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2019/09/PEPFAR2019ARC.pdf.
    1. Crum NF, Riffenburgh RH, Wegner S, Agan BK, Tasker SA, Spooner KM. et al. Comparisons of causes of death and mortality rates among HIV-infected persons: analysis of the pre-, early, and late HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) eras. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006;41:194–200. - PubMed
    1. Hooshyar D, Hanson DL, Wolfe M, Selik RM, Buskin SE, McNaghten AD. et al. Trends in perimortal conditions and mortality rates among HIV-infected patients. AIDS. 2007;21:2093–2100. - PubMed
    1. Ntsekhe M, Hakim J. Impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on cardiovascular disease in Africa. Circulation. 2005;112:3602–3607. - PubMed