Cardiac Abnormalities in HIV Positive Individuals in a Tertiary Care Centre: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION: Association of viral load and extent of myocardial involvement is being studied so that better antiviral therapy shall prevent cardiovascular comorbidities in HIV positive individuals. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To study the clinical profile, biochemical parameters, abnormalities in chest x ray, electrocardiography and echocardiogram in HIV positive individuals with complaints of breathlessness of New York Heart Association class 2 and above. 2. To study the correlation between CD4 count and left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Period: 4 months. Study Population: 100 HIV positive individuals. Study Design: Observational study. Study Center: RAJIV GANDHI GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL, CHENNAI. After obtaining approval from Institutional Ethical Committee, 100 stable HIV positive individuals presenting to Anti Retroviral Therapy outpatient clinic and being admitted as inpatient are included in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed written consent for participating in the study is obtained from participants. Patients’ personal details are kept confidential and are not disclosedthroughout the study. Participants’ outpatient or inpatient registration number, presenting complaints, age, sex, occupation, height, weight, alcohol consumption history if present, smoking history if present, comorbid diseases, time since HIV detection, recent CD4 count, duration of anti retro viral therapy, presence of opportunistic infections and medications taken are noted. Their height, weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, oxygensaturation by pulse oximeter are recorded. Blood tests reports for hemoglobin level, random blood glucose, fasting lipidprofile, blood urea, serum creatinine done as per NACO guidelines are noted. Chest x ray PA view, electrocardiography, echocardiogram are performed and abnormalities noted. Participants are categorized in to two groups – individuals with CD4 countless than 350 cells/ cu mm and individuals with CD4 ...