CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND HIV INFECTION IN PATIENTS AGED 50 YEARS AND OLDER AT THE AHALA DISTRICT MEDICAL CENTER, CAMEROON
Authors: Essomba Thérèse Mbezele , Djanga Esther Marguerite Chase , Edo’o Vanina Doris , Hervé Jim Nemy , Essomba Marie Josiane Ntsama , Mossus Tatiana , Essi Marie José 
Published: July 2022

Aim and objectives: Older people living with HIV (P50+) are living longer and longer and are therefore prone to age-related comorbidities. The objective of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular risk of P50+ followed in an HIV care unit in Cameroon.
Methods: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were assessed through clinical examination and the following paraclinical exams fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, creatinine level with calculation of glomerular filtration rate according to the Cockcroft and Gault formula and resting electrocardiogram.
Results: The proportion of P50+ was 13.9% and 80 patients were included in the study. The following prevalence of CVRF were found sedentary lifestyle (77.5%), chronic smoking (5%). Fifteen percent reported having hypertension and 25% of the P50+ had high blood pressure during physical examination. Similarly, 2.5% of the patients reported diabetes and 7.5% of the P50+ had high blood sugar levels. The examinations performed revealed 2.5% of LDL-cholesterol dyslipidemia, 23.1% of glomerular filtration rate abnormalities, 5.7% of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and 22.9% of electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischemia. The study of the interdependence between CVRF and the characteristics of the population revealed a relationship of dependence between physical activity and age (p=0.002), diabetes and age (p=0.004), diabetes and duration of HIV (p=0.007), LVH and duration of HIV (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk is high in P50+ which could make them vulnerable to cardiovascular events. It is therefore necessary or even essential that cardiovascular risk assessment be integrated into the continuum of care of PLWH in general and P50+ particularly in HIV care units.
                  
Peer Review History:
Received: 29 April 2022; Revised: 8 June; Accepted: 28 June, Available online: 15 July 2022
Academic Editor:  Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com
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Received file:                                Reviewer's Comments:
Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10
Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10
Reviewers:
Dr. Peter Juma Ochieng, Biotech Research Center (BRC), Obuda University, Hungary, peter26juma@gmail.com
Dr. Esther Marguerite Chase DJANGA, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Department of Public Health. University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. e.djanga@yahoo.com
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