Prevalence and risk factors of peripheral artery disease in black Africans with HIV infection: a cross-sectional hospital-based study.

Background: The prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is not well known among HIV-infected patients in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of PAD among HIV-infected patients at the Douala General Hospital (DGH).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study between November 2015 and April 2016. We recruited patients aged ≥21 years, diagnosed with HIV infection, and who were receiving care at the DGH. We collected sociodemographic data and past medical history of patients. We measured their ankle-brachial index (ABI). We defined PAD as an ABI <0.9. We also measured their fasting blood glucose and lipid profile.

Results: We recruited 144 patients for this study. The mean age was 46±9 years, and 72.2% were females. Of which, 89% were on antiretroviral treatment (ARV). Their mean CD4+ T lymphocytes count was 451±306 cells/mm. Their mean ABI was 1.12±0.17 and 1.07±0.11, respectively, on the left and right legs (>0.05). The prevalence of PAD was 6.9% (95% CI: 3.4-12.4), and 60% of patients with PAD were symptomatic. After adjusting for age, sex and ARV, ARV treatment was protective (aOR: 0.18, [95% CI: 0.04-0.82], =0.034), while WHO stages III or IV was associated with PAD (aOR: 11.1, [95% CI: 2.19-55.92], =0.004).

Conclusion: The prevalence of PAD was not as high as expected in this group of patients with high cardiovascular risk infected with HIV. Advanced HIV disease was associated with PAD, while ARV was protective.