Alinda G. Vos

Introduction: HIV/AIDS continues to be a significant health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, with stigma likely affecting ART adherence, and subsequently viremia, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association between stigma, ART adherence, and CVD risk among people living with HIV (PLWH). Setting: A longitudinal study was conducted among 325 PLWH from the Ndlovu Cohort Study, South Africa. Methods: Stigma was assessed using a 12-item questionnaire (range: 0–44; higher scores indicate greater stigma). Pulse wave velocity (PWV, CVD surrogate marker) and viral load (VL) were assessed at 12 and 36 months. VL was considered a surrogate marker of ART adherence: VL > 1000 copies indicating poor/no adherence, VL 50–1000 copies suboptimal, and VL < 50 copies good adherence. The relationship between stigma, VL, and PWV was assessed by linear regression and changes in PWV overtime by mixed linear models. Results: At baseline, PLWH (n = 325, mean age (SD) = 41.1 (10.2) years, 67% female) had mean PWV of 7.3 min/s. Good, suboptimal, and poor adherence were 78%, 15%, and 7%, respectively. The mean (SD) stigma score was 16.9 (1.4) and was not associated with VL and PWV. Suboptimal and poor adherence were associated with higher PWV [beta = 4.18 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.79 to 6.57)] at 12 months and between 12 and 36 months [beta = 1.30 (95% CI: 0.06 to 2.55)] in mixed model analyses in PLWH older than 49 years, respectively. PWV increased by 0.21 min/s (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.40; P = 0.03) between 12 and 36 months overall. Conclusions: In this study, poor ART adherence was associated with higher PWV. The stigma score was low and not associated with ART adherence and PWV.

HIV majorly contributes to the disease burden in South Africa. Depressive symptoms are common in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Few studies compared depressive symptoms between PLHIV and those without HIV. The aim of the study was to examine the association of HIV status and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the study aimed to explore the comparison between HIV-negative participants and the different HIV-positive sub-groups regarding their depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among PLHIV and HIV-negative participants in rural South Africa, using the baseline data of the Ndlovu Cohort study. Data was collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, and depressive symptoms using the PHQ-9 questionnaire. A score of 10 and above indicated depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analysis on the relationship between HIV status and depressive symptoms was used while adjusting for age, sex, level of education, employment status, income, and ever smoking. The study included 1,927 participants; 46% were PLHIV and 239 (12.5%) had depressive symptoms. PLHIV were more likely to have depressive symptoms than HIV-negative participants (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01–1.77). This association was not statistically significant after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.92–1.63). Compared to HIV-negative participants, ART (antiretroviral treatment) naïve participants had statistically significant higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.20–2.78). This association remained after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.11–2.61). There was no statistically significant difference in depressive symptoms between HIV-negative participants and those on ART, regardless of treatment regimen. In general, higher odds of depressive symptoms in ART-naïve PLHIV could reflect poor coping with diagnosis of HIV. Future research to investigate the relation between ART regimen and depressive symptoms, to establish causality and to identify changes over time, is warranted.

Background: HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in high‐income countries. The authors studied the longitudinal association between HIV and ART and nonlaboratory Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in a middle‐income country. Methods and Results: This longitudinal analysis of the NCS (Ndlovu Cohort Study), South Africa used baseline to 36‐month follow‐up data. Demographics, HIV, ART status, and cardiometabolic measures were obtained. FRS was used as a CVD risk measure. Through linear mixed models, FRS trends over time and the association with HIV were studied. Analysis included 1136 participants, with 609 (54%) having HIV, and 495 (81%) taking ART. At baseline, 9.8% of participants had a high FRS. People living with HIV (PLHIV) had a 3.2% lower FRS than HIV‐negative participants ( P P P P <0.001). Conclusions: CVD risk increased for all participants over 36 months, suggesting classic risk factors rather than HIV status or ART to be drivers of CVD risk. People living with HIV had a significantly lower FRS than their HIV‐negative counterparts, possibly related to HIV itself or a more frequent interaction with healthcare services. No association of HIV and ART with changes in FRS over 36 months was observed, suggesting the need for research using clinical endpoints to elucidate the effects of HIV and ART on CVD risk. Population‐based prevention of CVD risk factors in sub‐Saharan Africa is warranted, regardless of HIV status.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with weight gain, but this has been shown to be more marked with dolutegravir and other integrase strand transfer inhibitors. Objectives: We studied weight gain in people living with HIV (PLWH) on ART compared to the general population in the period before dolutegravir was introduced in a rural South African cohort. Method: Longitudinal analysis of the Ndlovu Cohort Study including 36–48 months’ follow-up data. From 2014 to 2019, data were collected annually in Limpopo, rural South Africa. Linear mixed models using HIV status, demographics, ART use and cardiovascular risk factors were used to estimate trends in body mass index (BMI) over time. Results: In total, 1518 adult, non-pregnant participants were included, of whom 518 were PLWH on ART (79.8%), 135 PLWH not yet on ART (20.2%) and 865 HIV-negative. HIV-negative participants had significantly higher BMIs than PLWH on ART at all study visits. There was a significant increase in BMI in all subgroups after 36 months (PLWH on ART, BMI +1.2 kg/m2, P < 0.001; PLWH not on ART, BMI +1.8 kg/m2, P < 0.001 and HIV-negative, BMI +1.3 kg/m2, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The increase in BMI in PLWH and HIV-negative participants is a serious warning signal as obesity results in morbidity and mortality.

Objectives To document the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) and to identify factors associated with undiagnosed DM in people living with HIV (PLWH).Methods Cross-sectional study performed at Ndlovu Medical Center, Limpopo, South Africa including PLWH aged =18 years. Between August and November 2017, 356 HIV-positive participants were included. Information was collected on socio-demographics, DM symptoms and risk factors for DM. IGT and DM were diagnosed using random plasma glucose and/or HbA1c. Factors associated with undiagnosed DM were assessed by comparing participants with newly diagnosed DM to participants without DM.Results IGT was diagnosed in 172 (48.3%) participants. Twenty-nine (8.1%) participants met the definition of DM, of whom 17 (58.6%) were newly diagnosed. Compared to participants without DM, participants with DM were on average 5 years older, were more likely to have a positive family history for DM, were less physically active and had higher systolic blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference. Factors associated with undiagnosed DM included age = 45 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.59) and physical inactivity (OR = 3.17).Conclusions The prevalence of IGT and DM among PLWH is high and more than half of DM cases were undiagnosed. Regular screening for DM in PLWH is recommended, especially in an ageing population with additional cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. The occupational challenges of bus drivers may increase their risk of CVD, including developing obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We evaluated the medical records of 266 bus drivers visiting an occupational medical practice between 2007 and 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to determine the health status of bus drivers and investigate risk factors for CVD, and their impact on the ability to work. The participants were in majority male (99.3%) with a median age of 41.2 years (IQR 35.2); 23.7% were smokers, and 27.1% consumed alcohol. The median body mass index (BMI) was 26.8 m/kg² (IQR 7.1), with 63.1% of participants having above normal BMI. Smoking, BMI, and hypertension findings were in line with national South African data, but diabetes prevalence was far lower. Undiagnosed hypertension was found in 9.4% of participants, uncontrolled hypertension in 5.6%, and diabetes in 3.0%. Analysis by BMI category found that obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of hypertension. Uncontrolled hypertension was the main reason for being deemed ‘unfit to work’ (35.3%). Our research highlights the need for more regular screening for hypertension and interventions to address high BMI.

The Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine is focused on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and related topics relevant to clinical and public health practice. The purpose of the journal is to disseminate original research results and support high-level learning related to HIV Medicine. It publishes original research articles, editorials, case reports/case series, reviews of state-of-the-art clinical practice and correspondence.

Hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for tuberculosis. Evidence of changes in blood glucose levels during and after tuberculosis treatment is unclear.To compile evidence of changes in blood glucose duri...

Introduction Previous studies indicate people with diabetes mellitus (DM) may have varying treatment outcomes when receiving treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and that TB infection or its treatment may predispose them to develop an abnormal blood glucose or type 2 DM. This has implications for Eswatini which is a high TB burden country and with increasing cases of non-communicable diseases including DM. This study will describe the epidemiology of DM-TB comorbidity in a prospective cohort of patients receiving TB treatment and identify best practices for integration of care for non-communicable diseases into TB services in Eswatini. Methods and analysis This study will employ a mixed-methods approach. Data from a prospective cohort of newly enrolled patients with TB at 12 health facilities from 1 June 2022 to 30 September 2022, and followed up to 30 April 2023, will be used. For the qualitative, key informants who provide TB services at the health facilities will be interviewed. Quantitative data from patients will be analysed descriptively and by tests of association and multivariate modelling. Key informant interviews from healthcare workers will be analysed using content analysis. Ethics and dissemination This research has been approved by the Eswatini Health and Human Research Review Board and participant confidentiality will be maintained. COVID-19 safety measures to reduce the risk of infection or transmission by researchers and participants have been instituted. Key programmatic findings and how they can impact healthcare delivery and access will be presented to the specific programme in the Eswatini Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders.