HYPERTENSION among adults receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was highly prevalent, affecting 47.4% of participants in a cross-sectional study conducted across three referral hospitals in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia.

The findings highlighted a substantial cardiovascular disease risk burden among people living with HIV and identified several metabolic and HIV-related factors independently associated with hypertension.

Researchers Studied Hypertension in HAART Population

Researchers analysed data from 422 adults receiving HAART between April and June 2025.

Information on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical factors, anthropometric measures, biochemical markers, and HIV-related variables was collected through structured questionnaires and medical records.

Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or current use of antihypertensive medication.

Metabolic Risk Factors Strongly Associated with Hypertension

Several cardiometabolic factors demonstrated significant associations with hypertension.

Obesity emerged as the strongest predictor, with participants with a body mass index of at least 30 kg/m² showing markedly increased odds of hypertension compared with underweight individuals.

Dyslipidaemia was also linked to elevated risk. Raised low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL were associated with hypertension. Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL_ cholesterol below 60 mg/dL also showed an association.

In addition, fasting blood glucose levels of at least 126 mg/dL were associated with more than five-fold increased odds of hypertension.

HIV Related Factors Increased Hypertension Risk

The analysis further identified several HIV-related characteristics associated with hypertension.

Individuals living with HIV for more than 20 years had higher odds of hypertension. A CD4+ cell count below 350 cells/mm³ was also associated with elevated risk.

Similarly, viral load above 1,000 copies/mL was independently associated with hypertension.

Advanced HIV disease, classified as Stage IV, was linked to increased odds of hypertension.

The researchers concluded that hypertension was highly prevalent among adults receiving HAART and that both cardiometabolic and HIV-related factors contributed to risk.

They suggested that integrating cardiovascular risk assessment, prevention strategies, and hypertension management into routine HIV care could help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in this population.

Reference

Asmare & Ashenef. Hypertension and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Sci Rep. 2026;DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-64491-y

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