Metabolic Complications in Korean HIV/AIDS Patients Receiving Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy

Choe, Young Ju; Park, Sang Won; Kim, Hong Bin; Park, Wan Bum; Lee, Ki Deok; Oh, Myoung Don; Choe, Kang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), metabolic com- plications have been reported with varying prevalence. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of metabolic complications arising in Korean HIV/AIDS patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
66 HIV positive patients on combination therapy between 1998 June to 2002 June with at least 1 protease inhibitor (PI) or/and Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) were reviewed. Hyperglycemia was defined as serum glucose >140 mg/dL on 2 or more occasions; diabetes as any random serum glucose >200 mg/dl; hypercholesterolemia as serum cholesterol >240 mg/dL; hypertriglyceridemia as serum triglyceride >200 mg/dL. We used SPSS version 9.0 for statistical analysis. One way ANOVA was used to compare the treatment groups. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was used for risk factor analysis.
RESULTS
66 patients were analyzed and total duration of follow up was 138 patient-years. The incidence of metabolic complication was 20.3%. Incidence of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetes were 12.3%, 5.8%. 1.4%, 4.3% respectively. On risk factor analysis, factors contributing to the development of metabolic complication were age>35 years (P= 0.020) and baseline serum triglyceride >140 mg/dL (P=0.001). Baseline CD4 count <170/mm3 (P= 0.054) and use of stavudine >6 months (P=0.055) were associated with development of metabolic complications with borderline significance.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of metabolic complication among Korean HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART is 20.3%. Older age and high baseline triglyceride were risk factors for development of metabolic complications.