Prevalence, clinical presentation and factors associated with chronic lung disease among children and adolescents living with HIV in Kenya
Authors: Maleche-Obimbo Elizabeth , Attia Engi , Were Fredrick , Jaoko Walter , Graham Stephen M. 
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Children and adolescents with HIV (CAHIV) may experience recurrent and severe respiratory disease and are at risk of residual lung sequelae, and long-term morbidity from chronically damaged lungs. With improved survival due to increased access to effective antiretroviral therapy there is an increasing population of CAHIV who require optimal life-long care. Chronic lung disease in CAHIV is an under-recognised problem in African settings. We sought to determine the prevalence, clinical presentation and factors associated with chronic lung disease (CLD) among CAHIV in Kenya.

Methods

CAHIV aged ≤19 years in care at a public hospital in Nairobi were enrolled into a longitudinal cohort study. Sociodemographic and clinical information were obtained through interview, medical record review, physical examination and six-minute walk test. CD4 counts and viral load were determined. Enrolment data was analysed to determine baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Prevalence of CLD defined as presence of ≥2 respiratory symptoms or signs at enrolment was computed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate for association between various factors and presence or absence of CLD.

Results

We enrolled 320 CAHIV of median age 13 (IQR 10–16) years, 80 (25%) were <10 years, 46% were female, 31% lived in a one-room house and 51% used polluting cooking fuel. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated after age five years in 56%, 43% had prior pneumonia or tuberculosis, 11% had low CD4 count and 79% were virologically suppressed. Common respiratory symptoms and signs were exertional breathlessness (40%), chronic cough (23%), chest problems in the preceding year (24%), tachypnoea (52%), finger clubbing (6%), exercise limitation (59%) and oxygen desaturation during exercise (7%). CLD was present in 82 (26%) participants, and adding the six-minute walk distance <70% of predicted (exercise limitation) identified an additional 28 (9%) CAHIV with CLD. CLD was more common among older teenagers (odds ratio (OR) 1.95), those who had prior TB or pneumonia (OR 2.04), delayed initiation of ART (OR 2.60), cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (OR 3.35) or TB preventive therapy (OR 2.81). CLD was associated with viraemia (OR 2.7), lower quality of life (OR 12.7), small houses (OR 2.05), caregiver having fewer years of education (OR 2.46), outdoor pollution exposure (OR 3.31) and lower use of polluting cooking fuel indoors (OR 0.26). Adjusted analysis revealed CLD to be associated with prior tuberculosis or pneumonia (adjusted OR (aOR) [95%CI] 2.15 [1.18–3.91]), small house (aOR 1.95 [1.02–3.73]), lower use of polluting cooking fuel (aOR 0.35 [0.13–0.94]) and negative impact on health-related quality of life (aOR 6.91 [3.66–13.03]).

Conclusions

CLD is highly prevalent across the age spectrum of CAHIV, and most are symptomatic with cough or exertional breathlessness. CLD is associated with prior tuberculosis or pneumonia, socio-environmental factors, and lower quality of life. Structured interventions are needed to provide optimal care specific to their needs.