Abstract:
Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, eye
disease and premature death. With the advent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
infection and antiretroviral drugs, there has been conflicting reports on their effect on
hypertension with some studies associating the two with hypertension. However, data is
still scanty especially in Africa as few studies have been done. This study aimed at
evaluating the prevalence of hypertension among HIV positive patients and associated
risk factors.
A cross-sectional study was carried out over 2 months (between 15th September and 10th
November, 2008) at the out-patient based Comprehensive Care Centre, Thika District
Hospital. A total of 200 HIV positive patients were selected through systematic random
sampling. Blood pressure was measured in all selected participants in order to assess the
prevalence of hypertension. A detailed semi-structured questionnaire was also
administered to determine the risk factors for hypertension.
Prevalence of hypertension among HIV positive patients was 18% (95% Confidence
Interval [CI]:12.5-23.5%). The hypertensive and the normotensive groups were
comparable in terms of duration of HIV infection and use of antiretroviral drugs. The
hypertensive group was older by six years (43.3±10.4 vs 37.4±9.3; p-value=0.001) with
an age of ≥35 years being independently and significantly associated with hypertension at
logistical regression analysis (Odds Ratio [OR]:4.55; 95% CI: 1.72-12.03; pxii
value=0.002). The hypertensive group had a higher body mass index (BMI) (23.53±3.4
vs 21.96±3.9; p-value= 0.03) with a BMI of ≥25 being significantly associated with
hypertension (OR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.32-6.85; p-value=0.009). Having had kidney disease
was also significantly associated with hypertension (OR: 13.38; 95% CI: 1.81-98.73; pvalue=0.01).
Hypertension is not uncommon in HIV positive patients and better prevention, detection,
control and treatment policies should be formulated. An age of ≥35 years, being
overweight and having kidney disease were the risk factors identified in this study.
