Prevalence and risk factors of non-communicable diseases among HIV/AIDS patients on anti-retroviral therapy at Mukono General Hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed the course of HIV/AIDS by enabling patients to live longer, raising concern of the co-existence of HIV with other chronic illnesses, notably non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are on the rise in developing countries and evidence shows higher occurrence among people living with HIV (PLHIV). There are many factors that predispose people living with HIV (PLHIV) to Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like age, alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking. In Uganda, the burden of NCDs among PLHIV and their associated risk factors remains largely unquantified. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and their associated risk factorsamong HIV/AIDS patients on anti-retroviral therapy at Mukono general hospital, Uganda METHODS This was a cross sectional study conducted among 255 systemically sampled patients receiving ART at Mukono general hospital for a period of 4 weeks. The study used data regarding demographics, socio economic status, lifestyle behavior, diet and physical activities collected from routine care patient files to identify patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and risk factors. Prevalence of the NCDs was estimated and reported with 95% confidence intervals. The STATA version 13 was used for this data analysis and the level of statistical significance was at p < 0.05. RESULTS The overall prevalence of having an NCD was 19.2% (95% CI: 17.1-21.3), that of hypertension was 12.9% (95% CI: 10.3-15.5) and diabetes was 7.1% (95% CI: 3.6-10.6). Prevalence was significantly higher among older participants, widowed participants and individuals with an opportunistic infections. CONCULSION Non communicable diseases are common among HIV/AIDS patients with hypertension having a higher prevalence than diabetes. There is need of early diagnosis, screening and treatment of hypertension, diabetes and their associated risk factors among PLHIV in Uganda.