Prevalence of insulin resistance among patients attending the HIV clinic in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews Vol. 11; pp. S607 - S610
• Main Authors: Dada, Adeyemi O, Oshodi, Temitope T, Ajie, Iwuchukwu O, Onyenekwu, Chinelo P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Tertiary Care Centers
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2017.04.012

Abstract Background Insulin Resistance(IR) is increasing in Africans as well as among the Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infected population for several reasons which include the viral infection itself and the use of Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This present study assessed the prevalence of IR among HIV infected population and the imminent effect of the disease and therapy on patients. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted in Lagos among 266 HIV infected participants and 130 HIV Negative controls aged 18–80 years. Questionnaires were administered and fasting venous blood samples collected for plasma glucose and insulin. Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR) and Quantitative Insulin Check Index (QUICKI) indices were used to establish Insulin Resistance using a cut off of >2 and <0.339 respectively. Results Insulin resistance was prevalent in 24.1% of HIV-infected participants based on a HOMA-IR and 21.1% using QUICKI compared to 8.5% and 4.6% in the HIV uninfected controls (p < 0.001). A prevalence of 25.8% was found among the HAART exposed group compared to 10% among the HAART naïve group (p = 0.056) using HOMA-IR while QUICKI results showed 22.5% and 10% respectively (p = 0.115). Conclusion This study established a significantly high prevalence of IR among HIV infected patients and a higher but non-significant prevalence among the HAART exposed group. Close monitoring of patients is recommended to reduce the risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus. Further research work is needed to identify ways of lowering the prevalence of IR in HIV infected persons.