SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2026
Prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in HIV-infected children from sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLeft ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is an emerging non-communicable complication among children living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where paediatric HIV burden remains high. However, reported prevalence varies widely across studies and treatment eras, reflecting differences in antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure, disease severity, and diagnostic criteria.
aimTo estimate the prevalence of LVSD among children living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and evaluate study-level factors associated with variability.
methodsA systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, AJOL, and ScienceDirect were searched. Studies reporting echocardiographically defined LVSD (EF < 55% or FS < 28%) in individuals aged 0-19 years were included. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Subgroup analyses were conducted by ART era, ART coverage, echocardiographic method, ART duration, and study quality. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were performed using R (metafor package). Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test.
resultsTwenty studies (n = 3,994) were included. The pooled prevalence of LVSD was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.0-12.0%) with high heterogeneity (I² = 95%). Prevalence was substantially higher in pre-ART/early ART studies (27.8%) compared with ART-era studies (3.6%). Studies with ≥ 80% ART coverage reported lower prevalence (2.6%) compared with < 80% coverage (12.8%). There was, however, persistent high heterogeneity in subgroup analyses. Meta-regression showed that increasing ART coverage was associated with lower LVSD prevalence (OR 0.75 per 10% increase; p = 0.01). Echocardiographic method significantly influenced estimates, with FS-based studies reporting higher prevalence than EF-based studies. Egger's test showed no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.86).
conclusionLVSD remains present in a persistent proportion of children living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, although prevalence varies substantially across settings and treatment eras. Higher ART coverage and sustained treatment are associated with lower prevalence. Findings should be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity. Longitudinal studies using standardised definitions are needed.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.