Integration of Primary Preventive Care of Cardiovascular Disease in a Retroviral Clinic in an adult retroviral clinic in Ibadan: A retrospective study.

Abstract

Background: A consequence of improved survival of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV) is an aging population with an increased risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). International guidelines recommend primary preventive strategies which should be integrated into routine care of PLHIV.

Aims: This study audited the ASCVD preventive practices offered to PLHIV at the adult antiretroviral clinic in Ibadan.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of clinical records of all persons who were recruited into the antiretroviral therapy clinic between January 1 and December 31, 2018. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive practices were audited against recommendations of the American Heart Association for PLHIV.

Results: The records of 568 persons with a mean (standard deviation) age of 39.95 (11.77) years were reviewed. There were 365 (64.26%) females and 203 (35.74%) males. Only 364 (64.08%) patients had the required parameters for the calculation of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by the Friedewald formula. Ten-year ASCVD risk was not calculated for any of the patients during their clinic visits. Thirty-seven (6.51%) patients had either an LDL-C ≥4.91 mmol/L or an age between 40 and 75 years with diabetes mellitus or ASCVD risk score (when calculated) ≥ 7.5%. Only one of these persons was referred for specialist care of lifestyle modification. Fifty (8.80%) persons had an eGFR <60 mLs/min, but only 11 (1.94%) were referred for nephrology care.

Conclusion: The integration of primary preventive cardiovascular practices into routine care for PLHIV is suboptimal. A revision of the recommendations of the Nigerian National Guidelines for HIV may be a useful first step addressing this.