Original Articles
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026)
Antiretroviral therapy and lipid disorders among people living with HIV/AIDS in the West Region of Cameroon: a comparative 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: 29 June 2026
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Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has greatly reduced HIV morbidity and mortality, but long‑term use increases metabolic complications, especially dyslipidemia. This study assessed the prevalence of lipid disorders and associated factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the West Region of Cameroon. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in two major HIV/AIDS care units. A total of 450 participants were enrolled: PLHIV on ART for more than a year (n=150), PLHIV on ART for less than a year (n=150), and HIV-negative controls (n=150). Dyslipidemia was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria. Group comparisons used the Kruskal‑Wallis test, and associations were assessed with multivariate logistic regression. Mean levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‑C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑C) differed significantly between groups (p<0.001, p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression, treatment duration above 1 year (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=10.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.3-21.7; p<0.001) significantly increased the odds of hypercholesterolemia. Syphilis (aOR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.2-7.5; p=0.012) significantly contributed to the occurrence of elevated TG levels. Long-term ART was linked to significantly more lipid disorders, confirming treatment duration as a major driver of dyslipidemia in this population.
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How to Cite
Antiretroviral therapy and lipid disorders among people living with HIV/AIDS in the West Region of Cameroon: a comparative cross-sectional study. (2026). Sahelian Journal of Responsible One Health, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/sjroh.2026.649
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