The Association of Traditional, Non-Traditional, HIV, and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Related Risk Factors and Dyslipidemia Among People who are Living with HIV in Nova Scotia: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Abstract

The present study investigated the longitudinal relationships between traditional, non-traditional, HIV and HAART-related risk factors and dyslipidemia in people who are living with HIV living in Nova Scotia. A total of 303 men and 39 women who were patients of the Halifax HIV clinic with at least two measurements of: total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) or triglyceride concentration, taken between 1997 and 2009 were included in this study. Univariate repeated measures linear mixed effects regression models were developed for men and women separately and multivariate models were developed for men. BMI, produced a significant independent effect on total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio in men living with HIV. Hepatitis C co-infection, a history of injection drug use, and viral load (copies HIV RNA/ ml blood), all found to produce significant independent effects on HDL-C concentration among men living with HIV.