CARDIOVASCULAR RISK USING SERUM LIPOPROTEIN (A) CONCENTRATION LEVELS IN HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS ON HAART AT LIVINGSTONE GENERAL HOSPITAL, LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA.
Abstract
Author(s): Sepiso K Masenga , Trevor Kaile, Timothy Kantenga
Purpose: Data on Lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) levels and it’s accompanied risk for CVD in HIV positive patients on HAART in Zambia being limited, the study was conducted to provide the distribution of Lp (a) and to determine the risk categories for developing CVD using Lp (a) and LDL-c concentration levels in HIV patients on HAART at Livingstone General Hospital. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted between December 2014 and February 2015 at Livingstone General Hospital. Routine serum samples were collected and sent to the University Teaching Hospital Biochemistry laboratory for the determination of Lp (a) & LDL-c concentration levels on Beckman coulter AU480 analyzer. Data was analyzed using STATA v.12 and SPSS v.17. Results: Based on their Lp(a) levels, 48% were at low risk; 29% at high risk and 2% at very high risk for CVD. Only 7.7% were at risk for CVD based on their LDL-c level. Age (p=0.009) and duration on HAART (P<0.001) were significantly associated with high Lp (a). Conclusion: The percentage of HIV positive patients on HAART who were at risk for developing CVD using Lp (a) concentration levels was high. However, their LDL-c concentrations were fairly distributed with the majority having values within normal reference. Key words: Lipoprotein (a), Risk category, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, HIV, Cardiovascular Disease.
