Cardiac Manifestations in People Living with HIV: A CrossSectional Echocardiographic and ECG-Based Study from a Sudanese Tropical Teaching Hospital

Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) are more likely to have cardiovascular problems since they live longer due to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The goal of this study was to look at ECG and echocardiographic abnormalities in HIV-positive patients in Omdurman Tropical Disease Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 93 PLHIV was conducted between November 2020 and April 2021. Each patient underwent an ECG and an echocardiogram, and their clinical data, including WHO stage at diagnosis, ART regimen, and disease duration, were recorded. This comprehensive data collection enabled us to thoroughly investigate the relationship between QT prolongation or diastolic dysfunction and various clinical factors. Results: The predominant gender was female, including 46 out of 93 individuals. The average age was 38.9 ± 9.1 years. Among the total patients, 21.5% demonstrated diastolic dysfunction, 10.8% presented with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), 8.6% revealed tricuspid regurgitation, and 4.3% experienced moderate pulmonary artery hypertension (SPAP >35 mmHg). QT prolongation occurred in 26.9% of instances. ECG abnormalities were observed in 60.2% of individuals. Among these, longer QT intervals (26.9%) and ST-T alterations (12.9%) were the most prevalent observations. Gender exhibited a statistically significant correlation with QT prolongation (P = 0.006), while age showed a significant association with diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.036). Conclusion: Diastolic dysfunction and QT prolongation are common cardiac issues among HIV-infected patients. Routine heart check-ups should be part of HIV care, especially in older populations. Gender and age play key roles in specific heart problems in PLHIV. Additional studies are required to elucidate progression patterns and provide targeted therapies.