Prevalence and predictors of renal dysfunction among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the Southern Highland of Tanzania: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) poses a significant risk of developing renal dysfunction in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Renal dysfunction contributes to the morbidity and mortality of PLHIV. There is limited information on renal dysfunction among PLHIV in the Southern Highland, the highest HIV prevalent area in Tanzania. We conducted a study to estimate the magnitude and predictors of renal dysfunction among PLHIV on ART. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted at Njombe Town Council Hospital from December 2019 to April 2020, recruiting 396 participants. Serum was obtained to measure creatinine level then calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using CKD-EPI and the Bedside Schwartz equations. The participants' informations were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 15; a modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). The level of significance was specified at 0.05. RESULTS: the overall prevalence of renal dysfunction defined as GFR less than 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) was 20.7%, which increased by 4% as the age increases. The prevalence of renal dysfunction was higher in PLHIV on ART for more than six months to 24 months compared to their counterparts. Likewise, obese individuals had a 2.5 times higher prevalence of renal dysfunction than normal individuals. CONCLUSION: there is a relatively high prevalence of renal dysfunction among PLHIV on ART, predicted by age, duration on ART, and nutrition status.