West Afr J Med. 2026 Aug 28;43(2):128-135.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: HIV infection is linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease through a complex interplay of factors involving traditional risk factors, antiretroviral drug use and effects related to the immunologic aftermath of HIV infection. Men and women have similar risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but many social behaviours impact health differently by sex.
OBJECTIVES: This study set out to examine sex disparities in both traditional and behavioural cardiovascular risk factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) attending a clinic in Kano, North-western Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY: The study was cross-sectional, using a quantitative method of data collection for 840 males and females attending the HIV clinic. The prevalence of both clinical and behavioural risk factors was assessed. Data were assessed using SPSS version 27. Pearson Chi-square and Multivariate logistic regression were used.
RESULTS: The mean age was 43.7 ± 11.1 years. The most common risk factors were unhealthy diet (54%; 95% CI: 50%-57%), abdominal obesity (43.3%; 95% CI: 39.9%-46.8%), and obesity (38.3%; 95% CI: 35.0%-41.7%). Others were inadequate physical activity (25.9%; 95% CI: 23.0%-29.0%), dyslipidaemia (25.1%; 95% CI: 22.2%-28.2%), and high blood pressure (24%; 95% CI: 21.2%-27.1%). Smoking (3.4%; 95% CI: 2.3%-4.9%), hyperglycaemia (2.0%; 95% CI: 1.2%-3.2%) and alcohol consumption (0.71%; 95% CI: 0.26%-1.5%) were relatively rare. Unhealthy dietary habits were more common among females (66.2%) than males (41.9%, p < 0.001) and abdominal obesity affected more females (52.9%) than males (33.8%, p < 0.001). Conversely, obesity was more prevalent among males (44.5%) than females (32.1%, p < 0.001) and smoking was more common among males (5.7%) than females (1.2%, p < 0.001). The sex differences in obesity and abdominal obesity remained significant across models, despite adjustments for various confounding factors.
CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among PLWH in this study. Males had 86% higher odds of obesity compared to females and 66% lower odds of abdominal obesity. There is a need for assessment of actual cardiovascular outcomes among PLWH in this environment.
PMID:42898368