Comorbidities and New Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Women Living with HIV Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: There is limited gender stratified data in many type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) studies in Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Comorbidities, New Onset of T2DM and risk factors influencing predisposition to T2DM among women living with HIV (WLWH) and receiving Antiretroviral Therapies. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of females who were 15 years and above with HIV and/or without pulmonary TB attending HIV and TB DOTS clinics in Lagos, Nigeria from January 2019 to October 2021. The socio-demographic data of participants were obtained using questionnaire. Participants who were not known diabetic cases were tested for diabetes based on WHO and ADA standards using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test, fasting plasma glucose and 2 hour 75 g oral glucose post prandial test. CD4 and CD8 counts were carried out using flow cytometer and their cytokines’ levels were determine using ELISA technique. HIV positive patients with signs and symptoms of TB (presumptive TB) were tested using sputum smear microscopy method and gene X-pert technique. We measured Body mass index (BMI) using International System of Units (kg/m2). Information on age, gender, Antiretroviral therapy (ART), values of CD4, weight, height, viral load and cholesterol test results less than 6 months were obtained from the patients’ folders. Results: A total of 187 WLWH were studied. Their mean age was 41.93±10.32 years. Fifty-five (27.9%) had BMI values of ≥ 30 kg/m2. Twenty-one (11.2%) had impaired glucose level. Those with T2DM at baseline were 5(2.7%), 17(9.1%) later developed T2DM. There was strong association between newly developed T2DM and obesity odd ratio (OR) 8.21(95% CI 1.30-51.99), interleukin (IL-): IL-6 OR 4.50 (95% CI 0.58-35.15), viral load with OR as 1.34(0.48-3.75), knowledge of diabetes OR 2.24 (95% CI 0.43-11.62), consumption of alcohol OR 2.03(95% CI 0.60-6.90). Twenty (10.7%) WLWH developed pulmonary TB while receiving ART. Co-morbidities recorded were: HIV/T2DM 14(7.5%), HIV/TB 21(11.2%), HIV/TB/T2DM 7(3.7%). A total of 42(22.7%) were on 2nd line ART. Conclusion: Prevalence of HIV/TB co-infection, HIV/T2DM comorbidity and HIV/TB/T2DM multimorbidity were high. Also the prevalence of incident TB and new cases of T2DM among the study population were high. There was positive association between development of T2DM while receiving ART and obesity, IL-6, knowledge of diabetes and alcohol consumption. Protease inhibitors were found to influence the development of T2DM among WLWH while receiving ART. Recommendation: There is need for promoting awareness of T2DM and its risk factors among WLWH who are receiving ART.