World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases
Vol.09 No.08(2019), Article ID:94404,9 pages
10.4236/wjcd.2019.98048

Global Cardiovascular Risk of the HIV Positive Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Brazzaville

Stéphane Méo Ikama1*, Franck Ekoba-Otende1, Jospin Makani1, Amélia Bokilo2, Bienvenu Ossibi-Ibara3, Louis Igor Ondze-Kafata1, Bertrand Fikhaem Ellenga-Mbolla1, Thierry Raoul Gombet1, Suzy Gisèle Kimbally-Kaky1

1Department of Cardiology, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo

2National Centre of Blood Transfusion, Brazzaville, Congo

3Department of Infectious Diseases, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo

Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: July 2, 2019; Accepted: August 16, 2019; Published: August 19, 2019

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was conducted from January to August 2015 at the Brazzaville Ambulatory Treatment Center and at the National Blood Transfusion Center. The objective was to contribute to improving the care of people living with HIV under antiretroviral therapy by assessing their global cardiovascular risk (CVR). The variables studied focused on the epidemiological, clinical and biological aspects. The global CVR was assessed by the Framingham and WHO/ISH scores. There were 135 HIV-positive subjects, including 64 treated patients and 71 untreated HIV+ subjects. The subjects were divided into 83 men (61.5%) and 52 women (38.5%), with an average age of 42.6 ± 2.9 old years. The subjects were single people (62.2%), of a secondary educational level (63.7%), and civil servants (32.6%). The main risk factors found were dyslipidaemia (60%), obesity (36%), smoking (12.6%), hypertension (5.9%), diabetes (0.7%). The metabolic syndrome was found in seven cases (11.3%). The global CVR according to the score of Framingham, initially moderated at 17.2%, and mean at 1.5% within treated patients, was mean at 9.4% and high at 1.6% of the subjects respectively at the sixth month of treatment (p < 0.03). For the score of the WHO/ISH, the risk was high at 2% and very high at 3% within treated patients initially. This risk was increased to 3.1% for the high and very high risk respectively at sixth month of treatment (p < 0.04). In Congo, the HIV population involves a high global CVR under antiretroviral therapy. Preventive actions are highly recommended.

Keywords:

HIV Infection, Antiretroviral Therapy, Metabolic Disorders, Global Cardiovascular Risk, Congo

1. Introduction

HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, where live nearly 70% of people living with HIV (PLHIV), equals about 25.8 million people, among them 41% are on antiretroviral therapy [1] [2] [3] . In Congo, the prevalence of HIV infection is 3.2% among people aged 15 - 49 years [4] [5] . According to WHO/UNAIDS data, published in 2014, the Republic of Congo counted 81,000 PLHIV, and free antiretroviral therapy have been effective since 2000 [1] . Since the beginning of highly effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996, HIV infection is considered as a chronic disease [6] . Indeed, HIV patients under antiretroviral treatment found their life expectancy increased, with a reduction of nearly 48% in HIV deaths [6] . Thus, there is currently a transition from cardiovascular complications related to immunosuppression (myocarditis, pericarditis) to complications related to antiretroviral-induced metabolic disorders [6] . Cardiovascular complications currently represent the third leading cause of death, and the fourth leading cause of hospitalization in HIV patients behind infectious, oncologic and hepatic complications [7] . To prevent these complications, assessing cardiovascular risk (CVR) in HIV patients becomes crucial. This preliminary study is aiming to identify the main cardiovascular risk factors of HIV patients, and to evaluate their global CVR before and during ART.

2. Patients and Methods

It was a longitudinal cohort study, analytical and comparative data collection. It took place from January 2nd to August 30th 2015 (eight months) at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (ATC) of Brazzaville, and at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC). The study included HIV+ patients, followed by ATC, eligible or not for antiretroviral treatment, and volunteers (blood donors) from the NBTC. Patients were put on treatment according to the CD4 level, which has the threshold set at <500/mm3 according to the National Program of Fight against the AIDS, in addition to the associated comorbidities and the noncompliance to the antiretroviral treatment; the viral load was not available.

A total of 199 subjects were included by simple random pulling, divided into three groups:

­ Group A: witnesses, volunteer blood donors (n = 64);

­ Group B: untreated HIV+ subjects (n = 71);

­ Group C: HIV+ subjects on ART (n = 64).

The evaluation of the patients was done at the first month of inclusion (Mo) and the sixth month of follow-up (M6). The evaluation covered several data, collected through a form filled out by the investigator, including:

­ anamnestic data: age, sex, marital status, educational level, common cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, overweight/obesity);

­ clinical data: blood pressure, abdominal circumference (male < 94 cm, female < 80 cm), the body mass index by the ratio of weight on the square of the waist (N < 25 kg/m2);

­ biological data: blood sugar, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL and LDC cholesterol, triglycerides).

Variables studied were:

­ socio-demographic parameters: age, sex, educational level, marital status;

­ cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the existence of a metabolic syndrome, defined according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation [8] ;

­ the WHO clinical stage of HIV/AIDS infection;

­ the antiretroviral protocol used;

­ Global cardiovascular risk.

For the antiretroviral protocol, two regimens were used:

­ Scheme 1: Tenofovir + Emtricitabine + Efavirenz or Nevirapine;

­ Scheme 2: Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Efavirenz or Nevirapine.

The alternative to these two regimens was Abacavir + Didanosine + Efavirenz and Duovir + LP/r.

For the calculation of global cardiovascular risk, we used two models: the Framingham model [9] and the WHO model [10] , considering certain clinical and biological parameters, including age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, and LDL-c for the first model. Thus, different levels of risk were defined according to each of the models. Thus, according to Framingham, the risk was low if <5%, moderate between 5% - 10%, average between 10% - 20%, high between 20% - 40%, and very high if >40%. For WHO, the risk was low if <10%, average between 10% - 20%, high between 20% - 30%, and very high if >30%.

The data, were expressed as proportions, means or variances, were analysed with Epi-info 3.5.1 and Stata 12 software. For comparisons, we used the Khi-2 or Fisher test for qualitative variables and the ANOVA test for quantitative variables. The threshold of significance was set at p < 0.05.

3. Results

The 135 HIV+ patients were divided into 83 men (62.5%) and 52 women (37.5%), with an average age of 42.6 ± 2.9 years (range: 30 to 65 years). Patients were predominantly single (62.2%), with secondary education level in 86 (63.7%), and at clinical stage 3 of the WHO classification in 76 (56.3%). The main characteristics of the HIV+ population are presented in Table 1.

The regimen 1 combining (tenofovir + emtricitabine + efavirenz or nevirapine) was used in 44 (68.8%), 2 (zidovudine + lamivudine + efavirenz or nevirapine) in 18 (28.1%), and alternative protocol in two cases (3.1%). In these protocols, Efavirenz was used in 45 cases (70.4%) and nevirapine in 19 cases (29.6%).

Table 1. Main characteristics of HIV+ patients.

WHO: world health organisation; AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

According to height and weight, there was a statistically significant difference between treated HIV+ patients and untreated patients at the sixth month on weight (61.8 ± 10.6 vs 58.4 ± 10.3 kg; 0.0001), and the abdominal circumference (men: 82.8 ± 9 vs 75.5 ± 10.8 cm, p = 0.015 and women: 79.7 ± 10.5 vs 72.1 ± 10.3 kg; p < 0.0001). Metabolic abnormalities were hyperglycemia (4.7% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (60% vs 17%, p < 0.0001), hypertriglyceridemia (20% vs 14%, 1%, p 0.031), hyper-LDLemia (38% vs 8.5%, p < 0.0001), and hypo-HDLemia (6.2% vs 49.3%, p < 0.0001). A metabolic syndrome was noted in seven cases (11.3%) of patients on ART. The groups B and C being comparable according to the biological parameters at the inclusion, it was noted a clear increase in the different biological findings, specially the glycemia (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.9 ± 0.1 g/l; p < 0.0004), and the LDL-cholesterol (1.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.4 g/l; p = 0.0008) in the group C at the sixth month of the treatment with a significant statistical difference. The metabolic profile of the patients is shown in Table 2.

The global cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham score (Figure 1), initially moderate at 17.2% and average at 1.5% within treated patients, was average at 9.4% and high at 1.6% at sixth month of the treatment (p = 0.03). For the WHO/ISH score (Figure 2), the cardiovascular risk initially high at 2% and very high at 3% within treated patients has increased to3.1% for both, high risk and very high risk at sixth month of the treatment (p = 0.04).

Table 2. Metabolic profile of patients.

SD: standard deviation; M0: at inclusion; M6: at sixth month.

Figure 1. Stratification of global cardiovascular risk according the Framingham model.

Figure 2. Stratification of global cardiovascular risk according the WHO/ISH model.

4. Discussion

Since the beginning of highly effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996, HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease characterized by a clear reduction in morbi-mortality and an increase in cardiometabolic complications, as a result of accelerated atherosclerosis, thereby increasing the risk of acute events such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial occlusive disease [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] . Cardiovascular diseases have become the third leading cause of death and the fourth reason for hospitalization among HIV+ patients treated in developed countries [11] . Several factors, including antiretroviral therapy (ARV), HIV itself, and common risk factors (aging of the HIV-infected population, smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, arterial hypertension) contribute to the acceleration of the atherosclerosis leading to these cardiovascular complications [12] [13] [14] . Indeed, classic vascular risk factors are frequently found in the HIV-infected population, in varying proportions according to the studies [15] - [20] .

In our series, classic risk factors identified in HIV+ patients were dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Several African authors have found the same risk factors in varying proportions in HIV+ patients [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] . In our series, the metabolic abnormalities noted were hypercholesterolemia, hyper-LDLemia, hypo-HDLemia, and hyperglycemia. Lipid abnormalities are often the consequence of treatments with protease inhibitors (PIs) [26] [27] [28] , but also by non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Indeed, the preponderance of lipid abnormalities in our series, due to the use of PIs was rare, and very common during the use of NNRTIs, including efavirenz, a molecule widely used in our patients in nearly 2/3 cases, explains the role non-negligible NNRTIs in the occurrence of dyslipidemia in treated HIV+ patients. The impact of using NNRTIs on the global CVR is unclear. However, this drug class is a provider of dyslipidemias, including total hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia [29] . Indeed, HIV infection leads to a decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels during its progression to AIDS, because of the predominant weight loss on lean mass. Also, this deleterious effect is counterbalanced by nevirapine which leads to an increase of HDL-c, a beneficial effect slightly raised in our series because of the under-use of this molecule. Hyperglycemia is primarily influenced by the role of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Its relatively low prevalence in our study can be explained, on the one hand, by the short duration of exposure to ARVs (6 months) in the patients included, and on the other hand, by the low use of NRTIs (zidovudine and lamivudine) in our series.

Evaluation of the global cardiovascular risk of HIV+ patients is now a necessity, occurring in all patients before the initiation and during the antiretroviral therapy [30] . In the United States [16] [31] , the global Framingham-assessed CVR was higher among people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to non-HIV-infected subjects (17% vs. 11%). This finding was also noted in France [32] . In our study, the prevalence of high global CVR, although low compared to western series, attests to its increase over time in HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy. Similar proportions have been reported in some African series, notably in Benin [23] and Burkina Faso [21] . Overall, according to the literature data, the global CVR of PLHIV, particularly those treated with ARVs, appears to be higher than the one of HIV-positive patients without ARVs, and higher than the one of the general population [7] . The combination of classic cardiovascular risk factors commonly found in HIV-positive patients with the deleterious effects of ARVs, including induced metabolic disturbances in this vulnerable population, increases the risk of cardiovascular events occurrence. Thus, the metabolic complications and their corollary, the excessive risk of cardiovascular events, in particular coronary events, require from the health care professional having in common the management of these patients, in order to vulgarize the preventive measures.

Limitation of the Study

The small size of the sample due to the lack of funding, the short period of the study, and the lack of viral load dosage prevent us to generalize the findings of this study.

5. Conclusion

This preliminary study shows that in Congo, HIV infection affects a relatively young population. This vulnerable population has a high global cardiovascular risk with antiretroviral therapy. Preventive measures are needed to better manage these patients, based on a multidisciplinary collaboration involving cardiologists, infectiologists, and biologists.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Ikama, S.M., Ekoba-Otende, F., Makani, J., Bokilo, A., Ossibi-Ibara, B., Ondze-Kafata, L.I., Ellenga-Mbolla, B.F., Gombet, T.R. and Kimbally-Kaky, S.G. (2019) Global Cardiovascular Risk of the HIV Positive Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Brazzaville. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 9, 553-561. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjcd.2019.98048

References

  1. 1. Rapport ONUSIDA sur l’épidémiologiemondiale (2014). http://www.who.org

  2. 2. How AIDS Changed Everything: OMD 6: 15 ans, 15 leconsd’espoir de la riposte au SIDA. http://www.who.org

  3. 3. Rapport d’activités 2015 sur la riposte au SIDA dans le monde. http://www.unaids.org

  4. 4. République du Congo (2010) Programme National de Luttecontre le SIDA, UNICEF, OMS, Guide thérapeutique de prise en charge du VIH/SIDA. 35-40.

  5. 5. Centre National de la Statistiqueet des Etudes Economiques (2009) Enquête sur la séroprévalenceet les indicateurs du SIDA au Congo (ESISC-1) 2009: Rapport de synthèse. Brazzaville, 1-11.

  6. 6. Boccara, F. (2008) Cardiovascular Complications and Atherosclerotic Manifestations in the HIV-Infected Population: Type, Incidence and Associated Risk Factors. AIDS, 3, S19-S26. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000327512.76126.6e

  7. 7. Boccara, F., Capeau, J., Caron, M., Vigouroux, C. and Cohen, A. (2009) VIH, antirétroviraux, dyslipidémie et risque cardiovasculaire. Médecine et Maladies Infectieuses, 3, 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1957-2557(09)70106-3

  8. 8. Zimmet, P., Magliano, D., Matsuzawa, Y., Alberti, G. and Shaw, J. (2005) The Metabolic Syndrome: A Global Public Health Problem and a New Definition. Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, 12, 295-300. https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.12.295

  9. 9. D’Agostino, R.B., Vasan, R.S., Pencina, M.J., et al. (2008) General Cardiovascular Risk Profile for Use in Primary Care: The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation, 117, 743-753. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.699579

  10. 10. World Health Organization (2007) Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases Guidelines of Assessment and Management of Cardiovascular Risk. WHO, Geneva.

  11. 11. Kwong, G.P., Ghani, A.C., Rode, R.A., et al. (2006) Comparison of the Risks of Atherosclerotic Events versus Death from Others Causes Associated with Antiretroviral Use. AIDS, 20, 1941-1950. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000247115.81832.a1

  12. 12. Carr, A., Samaras, K., Thorisdottir, A., Kaufmann, G.R., Chisholm, D.J. and Cooper, D.A. (1999) Diagnosis, Prediction, and Natural Course of HIV-1 Protease-Inhibitor-Associated Lipodystrophy, Hyperlipidaemia, and Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Study. The Lancet, 353, 2093-2099. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(98)08468-2

  13. 13. Piériard, D., Telenti, A., Sudre, P., et al. (1999) Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in HIV-Infected Individuals Treated with Protease Inhibitors. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Circulation, 100, 700-705. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.100.7.700

  14. 14. Thiébaut, R., Savès, M., Mercié, P., Cipriano, C., Chêne, G. and Dabis, F. (2003) Epidémiologie du risquevasculaired’origineathéroscléreuse chez les patients infectés par le VIH-1. La Presse Médicale, 32, 1419-1426.

  15. 15. David, M.H., Hornung, R. and Fichtenbaum, C.J. (2002) Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease in Persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 34, 98-102. https://doi.org/10.1086/324745

  16. 16. Bergersen, B.M., Sandvik, L., Bruun, J.N. and Tonstad, S. (2004) Elevated Framingham Risk Score in HIV-Positive Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: Results from a Norwegian Study of 721 Subjects. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 23, 625-630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1177-6

  17. 17. Neumann, T., Woiwod, T., Neumann, A., et al. (2004) Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Probability for Cardiovascular Events in HIV-Infected Patients Part III: Age Differences. European Journal of Medical Research, 9, 267-272.

  18. 18. Saves, M., Chêne, G., Ducimetiere, P., et al. (2003) Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Patients Treated for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Compared with the General Population. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 37, 292-298. https://doi.org/10.1086/375844

  19. 19. Friis-Moller, N., Weber, R., Reiss, P., et al. (2003) Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in HIV Patients—Association with Antiretroviral Therapy. Results from the DAD Study. AIDS, 17, 1179-1193. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200305230-00010

  20. 20. Friis-Moller, N., Sabin, C.A., Weber, R., et al. (2003) Combination Antiretroviral Therapy and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction. The New England Journal of Medicine, 349, 1993-2003. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa030218

  21. 21. Sawadogo, A., Sanou, S., Hema, A., et al. (2014) Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Patients under Antiretrovirals in a Day Hospital at Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique, 107, 151-158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13149-014-0371-8

  22. 22. Diouf, A. and Cournil, A. (2014) Prevalence of Metabolic Complications after 10 Years of Antiretroviral Treatment in Senegal. Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique, 107, 234-237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13149-014-0349-6

  23. 23. Zannou, D.M., Tchabi, Y., Ahomadegbé, C., et al. (2013) Risquecardiovasculaire chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH à l’hopitaluniversitaire de Cotonou, Bénin. Medecine d’Afrique Noire, 60, 419-426.

  24. 24. Manuthu, E.M., Joshi, M.D., Lule, G.N. and Karari, E. (2008) Prevalence of Dyslipidemia and Dysglycaemia in HIV Infected Patients. East African Medical Journal, 85, 10-17. https://doi.org/10.4314/eamj.v85i1.9600

  25. 25. Alassani, A., Dovonou, A.C., Sossou, E., et al. (2015) Prévalence, facteurs associés et prédisposant du syndrome métabolique chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH sous traitement antirétroviral à Porto-Novo en 2014. Pan African Medical Journal, 22, 296. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2015.22.296.7923

  26. 26. Mercié, P., Tchamgoué, S., Thiébaut, R., et al. (2000) Atherogen Lipid Profile in HIV-1 Infected Patients with Lipodystrophy Syndrome. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 11, 257-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0953-6205(00)00103-5

  27. 27. Carr, A. and Cooper, D.A. (2000) Adverse Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy. The Lancet, 356, 1423-1430. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02854-3

  28. 28. Thiébaut, R., Daucourt, V., Mercié, P., et al. (2000) Lipodystrophy, Metabolic Disorders, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Aquitaine Cohort, France, 1999. Grouped Epidémiologie Clinique du Syndrome d’Immunodéficience Acquiseen Aquitaine. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 31, 1482-1487. https://doi.org/10.1086/317477

  29. 29. Mooser, V. and Carr, A. (2001) Antiretroviral Therapy-Associated Hyperlipidaemia in HIV Disease. Current Opinion in Lipidology, 12, 313-319. https://doi.org/10.1097/00041433-200106000-00011

  30. 30. Kaplan, R.C., Kingsley, L.A., Sharrett, A.R., et al. (2007) Ten-Year Predicted Coronary Heart Disease Risk in HIV-Infected Men and Women. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 45, 1074-1081. https://doi.org/10.1086/521935

  31. 31. Lake, J.E. and Currier, J.S. (2013) Metabolic Disease in HIV Infection. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13, 964-975. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70271-8

  32. 32. Mary-Krause, M., Cotte, L., Simon, A., Partisani, M. and Costagliola, D. (2003) Increased Risk of Myocardial Infarction with Duration of Protease Inhibitor Therapy in HIV-Infected Men. AIDS, 17, 2479-2486. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200311210-00010