Fasting blood glucose and insulin sensitivity are unaffected by HAART duration in Cameroonians receiving first-line antiretroviral treatment

Abstract Aims This study assessed the relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) duration and cardiometabolic disorders in HIV-infected Cameroonians. Methods HIV-infected Cameroonians aged 21 years or above were cross-sectionally recruited at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, a certified HIV care centre, and their anthropometry, body composition (impedancemetry), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid levels, and insulin sensitivity (IS; short insulin tolerance test) were measured. Results A total of 143 participants with various durations of HAART [treatment-naïve ( n = 28), 1–13 months ( n = 44), 14–33 months ( n = 35) and 34–86 months ( n = 36)] were recruited. They were mostly women (72%), and had a mean age of 39.5 (SD: 9.8) years. Half (52%) were using a stavudine-containing regimen. There was a significant trend towards a positive change in body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio with increasing duration of HAART (all P = 0.02). Systolic ( P = 0.04) and diastolic ( P = 0.03) blood pressure, total cholesterol ( P = 0.01), prevalence of hypertension ( P = 0.04) and hypercholesterolaemia ( P = 0.007) were also significantly increased with HAART duration, whereas triglycerides, FBG and IS were unaffected. Clustering of metabolic disorders increased ( P = 0.02 for ≥ 1 component of the metabolic syndrome and P = 0.09 for ≥ 2 components) with HAART duration. Conclusion HAART duration is associated with obesity, fat distribution, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in HIV-infected Cameroonians, but does not appear to significantly affect glucose metabolism.