Objectives: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can effectively improve immunity, reduce morbidity and mortality, and prolong the life-span of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it may also increase the risk of chronic diseases and subsequent medical costs. To understand the risks of HAART, the aim of this research was investigate the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and to determine the differences between those HIV infected patients with and without HAART regimens. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 1,724 patients diagnosed with HIV infections before 2000 in order to estimate the prevalence and risk of chronic diseases in 2010 for patients, and between those patients with and without HAART regimens. Furthermore, patients completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to investigate the incidence of chronic diseases. Results: A total of 1,344 patients survived until 2010. In 2010, the prevalence rates among all patients were 7.5% for diabetes, 11.5% for hypertension, and 29.1% for hyperlipidemia. Among the 85.3% of patients who had taken HAART, there were higher prevalence rates for chronic diseases (diabetes: 7.8%>2.2%, hypertension: 11.8% >4.4%, hyperlipidemia: 30.1% >4.4%, p<.001) than for those patients without HAART regimens. After adjustment for age and gender, patients with HAART regimens have significantly higher ORs then did those without HAART regimens (diabetes: 17.8, hypertension: 13.6, hyperlipidemia: 44.2, p<.001). The incidence of diabetes among HIV infected patients was 6.2 cases per 1000 person-years. It was 6.6 cases per 1000 person-years for hypertension, and 28.5 cases per 1000 person-years for hyperlipidemia. Conclusions: The prevalence rates for chronic diseases among HIV-infected patients with HAART were higher than those of patients without HAART regimens. (Taiwan J Public Health. 2011;30(6):549-557)
Objectives: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can effectively improve immunity, reduce morbidity and mortality, and prolong the life-span of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it may also increase the risk of chronic diseases and subsequent medical costs. To understand the risks of HAART, the aim of this research was investigate the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and to determine the differences between those HIV infected patients with and without HAART regimens. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 1,724 patients diagnosed with HIV infections before 2000 in order to estimate the prevalence and risk of chronic diseases in 2010 for patients, and between those patients with and without HAART regimens. Furthermore, patients completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to investigate the incidence of chronic diseases. Results: A total of 1,344 patients survived until 2010. In 2010, the prevalence rates among all patients were 7.5% for diabetes, 11.5% for hypertension, and 29.1% for hyperlipidemia. Among the 85.3% of patients who had taken HAART, there were higher prevalence rates for chronic diseases (diabetes: 7.8%>2.2%, hypertension: 11.8% >4.4%, hyperlipidemia: 30.1% >4.4%, p<.001) than for those patients without HAART regimens. After adjustment for age and gender, patients with HAART regimens have significantly higher ORs then did those without HAART regimens (diabetes: 17.8, hypertension: 13.6, hyperlipidemia: 44.2, p<.001). The incidence of diabetes among HIV infected patients was 6.2 cases per 1000 person-years. It was 6.6 cases per 1000 person-years for hypertension, and 28.5 cases per 1000 person-years for hyperlipidemia. Conclusions: The prevalence rates for chronic diseases among HIV-infected patients with HAART were higher than those of patients without HAART regimens. (Taiwan J Public Health. 2011;30(6):549-557)