
Alexander Cheza
South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaTitle : Incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in HIV Patients on ART in a Developing Country: Case of Zimbabwe’s Chitungwiza Central Hospital – a Retrospective Cohort Study (2010 – 2019)
Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been
reported to be rising over the years leading up to 2010. In Zimbabwe, there are
few studies done to examine the incidence of NCDs in people living with HIV
(PLHIV) on anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
Objective: To determine the incidence
of NCDs in HIV patients on ART at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital over ten
years
and the associated risk factors.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 203
patients enrolled on ART at the Chitungwiza Central Hospital between 2010 and
2019. All 500 records were considered and the selection was based on
participants’ consenting to the study and their strict adherence to ART without
absconding. The incidence of NCDs was determined and generalized estimating
equations (GEE) were used to estimate the association
between NCDs and the selected risk factors.
Findings: Data collected at the
study’s baseline (2010) showed that the most prevalent NCD was hypertension,
found in (18/203) 8.9% of the study participants, followed by diabetes (6.9%),
then followed by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (3.9%), and the least common NCD
was cancer (1.9%). Incidences of all of these NCDs showed an increasing trend
as the time of follow-up progressed. The factors found to be significantly
associated with the development of NCDs were gender (p=0.002) and follow-up
time (p<0.001). Geographical location was a significant risk factor as urban
patients were more likely to develop hypertension as compared to the peri-urban
patients (p=0.001).
Conclusions: NCDs
and HIV comorbidity is common with women
more likely than males to develop NCDs as they advance in age. There is need to devise targeted intervention
approach to the respective NCDs and risk factors since they affect differently
in relation to the demographic details of the participants.
Recommendations: This
paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach to the management of NCDs, with
researchers, clinicians and the government and its various arms taking a
leading role.
Biography
School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences