Original Articles
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2026)
Prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome among adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the West Region of Cameroon: a cross-sectional study
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 7 October 2026
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The epidemiology and factors associated with the onset of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the context of HIV remain poorly understood. In this cross-sectional study (September-October 2024, West Cameroon, two hospitals), we estimated the prevalence of MS and identified risk factors among 300 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated people living with HIV (PLHIV). MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) III criteria. Lipid profiles were from serum; diabetic/hypertensive status from records. Regression analyses used R software (threshold 0.05). The prevalence of MS was 15.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.2-19.1). Factors associated with MS included being older than 40 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.8; 95% CI: 1.0-7.6; p=0.041), female sex (aOR=1.2; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9; p=0.044), treatment duration ≥1 year (aOR=1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-2.2; p=0.015). The regimen based on dolutegravir (DTG), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), was associated with MS in the univariate analysis; however, this association was no longer statistically significant after adjustment for other factors. MS is common among PLHIV on ART in the West Region of Cameroon, influenced by patient-related factors, and duration of treatment. The therapeutic follow-up protocol for PLHIV should include monitoring for MS to reduce the occurrence of opportunistic diseases.
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How to Cite
Prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome among adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the West Region of Cameroon: a cross-sectional study. (2026). Sahelian Journal of Responsible One Health, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/sjroh.2026.631
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