Prevalence of prolonged QTc interval among HIV infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and its relationship with CD4 cells count and viral load at a tertiary hospital in North Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Patients living with HIV infection remain at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and sudden cardiac death. Various prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among HIV-infected patients were reported: Attamah et al reported the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities among HIV-infected patients as 34.5%, while Orunta et al reported a prevalence of 42.9%, and Njoku et al reported a prevalence of 93.0%. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients are at increased risk of developing prolonged QT interval. Sani et al reported the prevalence of prolonged corrected QT interval among HIV-infected patients as 45.0%. Innocent et al reported a prevalence of48.0%, while Ajala et al reported a prevalence of 18%. Prolonged QTc interval increases the risk of premature ventricular contraction which can degenerate into ventricular tachycardia and or ventricular that can result in sudden cardiac death. Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional conducted among HIV-infected patients receiving HAART at the Federal Medical Centre Nguru, Yobe State, North Eastern Nigeria. Results: One hundred and seven (107) subjects were recruited into the study comprising thirty-three (37.0%) males and 70(65.4%) females. The mean CD4 cell count, and viral load of the studied patients were 612.64 Conclusion: In conclusion, the study revealed that the prevalence of prolonged QTc interval among HIV infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy was found to be 18.7%, and that HIV disease severity increases the risk of developing prolonged QTc interval.