ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PREVALENCE OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN ADULT PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV IN NAUTH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Human Immunodeficiency virus is a common infectious disease that affects many systems in the body. Cardiovascular disease resulting in echocardiographic abnormalities especially pulmonary hypertension has been found in HIV infected individuals. Pulmonary hypertension has been associated with increased morbidity mortality.

To determine the echocardiographic prevalence of pulmonary hypertension amongst in Adult Persons Living with HIV in NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State. To also compare the ECG abnormalities of patients with pulmonary hypertension and those without pulmonary hypertension.

A cross sectional study of Fifty-five adult HIV participants on HAART and fifty-five controls recruited from the HIV outpatient clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. 2D Echo was done for all participants. Pulmonary hypertension was assessed with the tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity and the Systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.

Mean age of the participants was 44.7 (±14.3). 34.5% were males and 65.5 were females. 14.5% of patients had echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Increasing P wave amplitude and R wave in V1 were found to increase likelihood of pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is prevalent in adult HIV patients attending the RVD clinic at NAUTH. Routine ECG and Echo is advisable for early detection and proper management