Multimorbidity and associated factors among people living with HIV at Kalisizo Hospital data.xlsx

Abstract Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is grappling with the intersection of chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases, leading to an escalating prevalence of multimorbidity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with multimorbidity among People living with HIV at Kalisizo Hospital in Kyotera district-Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 296 randomly selected PLHIV receiving care and treatment at Kalisizo Hospital was conducted. Data on anthropometric measurements, glucose levels, hypertension, depression, and social demographic characteristics were collected using the WHO steps questionnaire, patient health questionnaire-9, and conducting anthropometric measurements and running laboratory tests. Data were entered in Excel 2007 and exported to STATA v15 for analysis. A modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate prevalence ratios with their 95% confidence intervals and p-values. Results: The study included 290 participants with a mean age of 43.42 (SD 8.65) years. Among respondents, 52.5% had completed primary education, 47.9% were married, 72.1% were Catholics, 42.2% were engaged in agriculture, and 63% earned ≤ 500,000 UGX monthly. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 16.9% (95% CI=13.0%-21.7%). In a multivariable model, participants who were as overweight (aPR=4.40, 95% CI: 2.33, 8.46, p<0.001), and obese (aPR=5.89, 95% CI: 2.83, 12.2, p<0.001), those in WHO HIV clinical stage 2 (aPR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.34, p=0.029) and stage 3 or 4 (aPR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.14, p=0.048), smokers (aPR=2.33, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.50, p=0.011), and those with a family history of NCDs (aPR=3.63, 95% CI: 2.18, 6.05, p<0.001) had a higher prevalence of MM. Conclusion: The study underscores the common occurrence of multimorbidity among people living with HIV. It emphasizes the crucial need for People Living with HIV to incorporate lifestyle adjustments, such as weight control, and smoking secession, if they are to control MM.