ABSTRACT
Renal disease is an important and commonly encountered co-morbidity in HIV infection. Despite this, few data are available concerning renal disease in this patient group. A retrospective review was conducted of all HIV-positive patients of an inner metropolitan sexual health service who attended from 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014 for HIV management. One hundred eighty-eight HIV-positive patients attended the clinic during the study period. The majority were male (96%), Caucasian (70%) and 30-39 years of age (37%). There was a high prevalence of renal risk factors in the population, including potentially nephrotoxic antiretroviral therapy (61%), smoking (38%), hypertension (12%), dyslipidemia (11%) and hepatitis C co-infection (7%). In the previous year, measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate were performed in all patients, but measurements of lipid profiles, urinary protein and serum phosphate were performed within the last year in only 48%, 33% and 30% of patients, respectively. These are the first comprehensive data regarding renal disease, associated risk factors and screening and management practices in the HIV-positive patient population of a specialized sexual health service in Australia. This patient population demonstrates a particularly high prevalence of risk factors for renal disease. Despite this, screening investigations were not performed as recommended. This represents a potential area to improve patient care.
Subject(s)
AIDS-Associated Nephropathy/diagnosis , Delivery of Health Care , HIV Infections/diagnosis , Mass Screening , Nephrology , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Reproductive Health Services , Urban Health Services , AIDS-Associated Nephropathy/epidemiology , AIDS-Associated Nephropathy/therapy , Adult , Delivery of Health Care/trends , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/therapy , Humans , Male , Mass Screening/trends , Middle Aged , Nephrology/trends , New South Wales/epidemiology , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Reproductive Health Services/trends , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Urban Health Services/trends , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background Few data exist regarding cardiovascular risk among HIV-infected patients attending sexual health clinics (SHC) in Australia. METHODS: The medical records of 188 patients attending an inner-city SHC between August 2013 and July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed for cardiovascular risk factors and associated screening and management practices. RESULTS: Cardiovascular risk factors were common among attendees of the SHC, including smoking (38%), hypertension (14%) and dyslipidaemia (11%). Of the 188 patients, 23% reported using potentially cardiotoxic recreational drugs, 25% of dyslipidaemic patients were not on therapy and 10% of patients were hypertensive; none were prescribed treatment. A smoking cessation program was offered to all patients. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease was demonstrated. Modification of risk factors could be improved.
