Association of vitamin D levels, lipid profile and intima media thickness in HIV positive patients

BACKGROUND: People with HIV are living decades longer than before due to combination ART; however, complications including CVD< osteoporosis and non AIDS defining malignancies are higher than in the general population. Many of the emerging complications related to chronic HIV infection represent disease processes where vitamin D is known to play an important role. OBJECTIVES: A single point cross sectional case control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in HIV patients and to study the association of lipid profile with HIV infection. Out of the 45 HIV positive cases, vitamin D deficiency was found in 42 cases (93.33%) whereas only 33 out of 45 (73.33%) healthy controls. Fifty one point eleven percent of cases had dyslipidemia compared to 15.55% of controls. A positive association was seen between CD4 levels and 25 hydroxy vitamin D. An inverse co-relation between CD4 count and triglycerides and VLDL levels while a positive co-relation with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels was seen. No significant difference was seen in CIMT in cases and controls.