Left ventricular hypertrophy in African children infected with HIV/AIDS: a case-control study

analysis to find association between dependent variable and independent variables. Independent variables that had an association in a univariate were included in the multivariate model to determine strength of association. Results: the mean age of the study population was 7.8 & PLUSMN; 2.07 years for controls and 8.3 & PLUSMN; 3.04 years for cases with respectively. They were made up of 51.2% (n= 86) males and 48.8% (n = 82) females (M: F=1.05: 1). We studied eighty-four (n= 84) cases, and LVH was seen in 67.7% (n= 56) of the patients. Mean left ventricular mass index (g/m2) was significantly higher in the cases (90.37 & PLUSMN; 35.50) than controls (89.37 & PLUSMN; 14.25, p= 0.04.) Relative wall thickness (mm) was within normal in the control, 0.35 & PLUSMN; 0.06 and high in the cases, 0.67 & PLUSMN; 0.17, p= 0.01. Eccentric hypertrophy was the most common type seen in 36.9% (n= 31) of the patients. Multiple linear regression analysis, revealed that the presence of LVH was associated with 0.212 (95% CI: 0.001 -0.014; p= 0.001) lower Body mass index (BMI) for age and 0.396 (95% CI; 0.002 -0.066; p= 0.03) lower CD4+ cell count as predictors of LVH. Conclusion: the prevalence of LVH was high. Lower body mass index (BMI) and CD4+cells count predicted LVH. This supports the recommendation by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) working group on research priorities for cardiovascular complications in HIV/AIDS, for baseline and periodic echocardiography in the management of children with HIV/AIDS.