Hypertension among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 16858 - 11
• Main Authors: Chen, Alexander, Chan, Yih-Kai, Mocumbi, Ana O., Ojji, Dike B., Waite, Laura, Beilby, Justin, Codde, Jim, Dobe, Igor, Nkeh-Chungag, Benedicta Ngwenchi, Damasceno, Albertino, Stewart, Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 23.07.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/4019/592/75/243; 692/499; 692/699/255/1901; 692/700; Africa South of the Sahara - epidemiology; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - epidemiology; Immune system; Male; Meta-analysis; multidisciplinary; Prevalence; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Systematic review; Africa South of the Sahara; Africa
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67703-5

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of hypertension in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, and Embase databases to identify studies published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. We used a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension and mean SBP/DBP level on a sex-specific basis. We included 48 studies reporting data on a pooled sample of 193,843 people living with HIV (PLW-HIV) in SSA. The pooled mean SBP/DBP level was 120 (95% CI 113–128)/77 (95%CI 72–82) mmHg, while the overall pooled prevalence of hypertension was 21.9% (95% CI 19.9–23.9%). Further meta-regression analyses suggested that the prevalence of hypertension was 1.33 times greater in males, 1.23 times greater in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 1.45 times greater in those individuals with a CD4-count ≥ 200. This meta-analysis of the contemporary pattern of BP levels among PLW-HIV in SSA, suggests that around one in five of such individuals also have hypertension. Given the further context of greater access to ART and subsequently greater longevity, study findings support calls to integrate cardiovascular management into routine HIV care.