[LDL-cholesterol levels in a series of HIV-infected patients]

Background and objective: To analyse the prevalence of HIV-infected patients who do not reach their target LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.

Patients and methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional study of all HIV-infected patients on regular follow-up in 5 hospitals in the province of Malaga (March-August/07). They were classified depending on their target LDL-C levels (NCEP): group A:<160mg/dl, if </=1 cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF); group B: <130mg/dl, if >/=2 CVRF; group C: <100mg/dl, if cardiovascular disease or equivalents or CVR at 10 years >20%). A comparison between patients reaching their target LDL-C levels and those not reaching them was done. Statistic program: SPSS.

Results: Of 1019 included patients, 232 (22.8%) did not reach their target LDL-C levels. There were 693 patients in Group A, 163 in Group B, and 153 in Group C (6.6%, 53.3 % and 65.0% respectively (p<0.05)) who did not reach their target LDL-C. Factors associated with LDL-C levels higher than target were: obesity (OR=1.98; 95%CI: 1.14-3.46; p=0.01), time on antiretroviral therapy (for each 2 years OR=1.92; 95%CI: 1.85-1.99; p=0.02), and being included in Groups B and C (OR=16.9; 95%CI: 10.8-26.6; p=0.00001).

Conclusions: More than 20% of the patients in this cohort did not reach their target LDL-C levels. Factors associated with high LDL-C levels were central obesity, time on antiretroviral therapy and being included in Groups B and C.