Lipoprotein levels and cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected and uninfected Rwandan women

• Main Authors: Anastos Kathryn, Ndamage François, Lu Dalian, Cohen Mardge H, Shi Qiuhu, Lazar Jason, Bigirimana Venerand, Mutimura Eugene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-08-01
• Series: AIDS Research and Therapy
• Online Access: http://www.aidsrestherapy.com/content/7/1/34

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lipoprotein profiles in HIV-infected African women have not been well described. We assessed associations of lipoprotein levels and cardiovascular risk with HIV-infection and CD4 count in Rwandan women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional study of 824 (218 HIV-negative, 606 HIV+) Rwandan women. Body composition by body impedance analysis, CD4 count, and fasting serum total cholesterol (total-C), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were measured. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated from Friedewald equation if TG < 400 and measured directly if TG ≥ 400 mg/dl.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BMI was similar in HIV+ and -negative women, < 1% were diabetic, and HIV+ women were younger. In multivariate models LDL was not associated with HIV-serostatus. HDL was lower in HIV+ women (44 vs. 54 mg/dL, p < 0.0001) with no significant difference by CD4 count (p = 0.13). HIV serostatus (p = 0.005) and among HIV+ women lower CD4 count (p = 0.04) were associated with higher TG. BMI was independently associated with higher LDL (p = 0.01), and higher total body fat was strongly associated with higher total-C and LDL. Framingham risk scores were < 2% in both groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this cohort of non-obese African women HDL and TG, but not LDL, were adversely associated with HIV infection. As HDL is a strong predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events in women, this HIV-associated difference may confer increased risk for CV disease in HIV-infected women.</p>