Hypertension and Obesity in Kenyans with HIV
Author Information
Author(s): Bloomfield Gerald S., Hogan Joseph W., Keter Alfred, Sang Edwin, Carter E. Jane, Velazquez Eric J., Kimaiyo Sylvester
Primary Institution: Duke University
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among HIV+ patients in Western Kenya?
Conclusion
There is a high prevalence of hypertension and overweight/obesity among HIV+ patients in Western Kenya, with notable differences between men and women.
Supporting Evidence
- 11.2% of men and 7.4% of women in the study were found to have hypertension.
- Overweight/obesity was more prevalent among women (22.6%) compared to men (10.6%).
- Overweight/obesity was a stronger predictor of hypertension than age for men.
- Hypertension prevalence was higher among younger men with higher CD4 counts.
Takeaway
This study found that many people with HIV in Kenya also have high blood pressure and are overweight, which can be bad for their health.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from a large HIV treatment program in Western Kenya from 2006 to 2009.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to exclusion of patients with insufficient blood pressure readings and reliance on clinical encounters for data collection.
Limitations
The study is limited by selection bias and the retrospective nature of data collection, which may not reflect chronic conditions accurately.
Participant Demographics
Participants included HIV+ adults aged 16 to 80 years, with a median age of 43 for men and 40 for women.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.88–3.09 for men, 95% CI 1.50–2.16 for women regarding the association of overweight/obesity with hypertension.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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