Abstract:
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of interrelated risk factors of metabolic
origin; the components include increased insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia and
hypertension. WHO defines HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) as a form of
antiretroviral therapy for treatment of persons infected with HIV and whose use has
decreased mortality and morbidity. Inclusion of protease inhibitors (PIs) and nucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NTRIs) have been linked to development of
lipodystrophy and metabolic abnormalities. Despite the success of HAART, the
prevalence of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and fat redistribution have increased after
its global scaling. Prevalence of MS among HIV –infected patients globally ranges from
17.0% to 45.4%, with most reports produced in developed nations. Disese of MS using
the International Diabetes Federation is a rise in triglycerides greater than 1.7mMol/l,
elevated fasting blood sugar greater than 5.6mMol/l and reduced HDL cholesterol less
than 1.03mMol/l. There exists no data on prevalence of MS among the prison
population in Kenya.
This study sought to determine;
i. The serum concentration of fasting blood sugar, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and
triglyceride of patients on HAART
ii. The BMI and blood pressure among patients on HAART
iii. Different types of regimens to metabolic syndrome
iv. Prevalence of MS in prisoners on HAART
This was a hospital based cross-sectional study of patients on HAART for at least six
months. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was at 14.3%. Of the 217 samples, 64.5%
(n=140) were male and 35.5% (n=77) were female. Prevalence of MS was higher in female
at 54.8% than males 45.2%. Distribution of MS by among 20-29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49 age
groups was 21.6%. Of the cases, ages 50 – 59 had the highest prevalence at 24.3% which
suggests an increase in the prevalence of MS with age. There was no significant
difference between the type of ART used and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome
among patients on HAART. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among inmates on
HAART was estimated at 14.3%. There was no significant difference between ART used
and presence of metabolic syndrome among patients on HAART. There was a weak
positive correlation between presence of metabolic syndrome and ART used. Using
ANOVA no significant difference was demonstrated between sex on the presence of
metabolic syndrome in patients on HAART.