ECHOCARDIOGRAPH CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES IN HAART-EXPERIENCED COMPARED TO HAART-NAÏVE HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS.

Asymptomatic cardiovascular abnormalities are common in HIV-infected patients. This study determined the prevalence and pattern of echocardiographic abnormalities in HAART-experienced HIV positive subjects compared to the HAART-naïve group.

In a cross-sectional study, one hundred (100) people living with HIV (PLWHIV) on HAART and one hundred (100) HAART-naïve PLWHIV were consecutively recruited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Clinical examination and echocardiography were performed on all study participants. Their socio-demographic data and HAART use were ascertained. The Chi and Fisher Exact tests were used to determine the significance of differences in the proportions of abnormalities between HAART-experienced and naïve groups.

Echocardiographic abnormalities in the HAART-experienced and treatment-naïve groups were 32% and 25%, respectively. The observed echocardiographic abnormalities seen were left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and pericardial effusion. There was no significant difference in the proportion of echocardiographic abnormalities between PLWHIV on HAART and the HAART-naïve groups (p > 0.05).

Baseline transthoracic echocardiographic screening for asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects without known cardiovascular risk factors or comorbidities is recommended, given the high prevalence of subclinical cardiac abnormalities in this relatively healthy population. Cardiac abnormalities are common in PLWHIV regardless of treatment with HAART.