Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among people living with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy in Indonesia: Prevalence and related factors

Abstract

Background/objectives: As people with human immunodeficiency virus experience longer life expectancy, other causes of morbidity and mortality are being increasingly identified. The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has recently been on the rise in Indonesia. People with human immunodeficiency virus on antiretroviral therapy are also at an increased risk of having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study aimed to define the prevalence and factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in people with human immunodeficiency virus on stable antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of people with human immunodeficiency virus, on antiretroviral therapy, age younger than 18 years old, and without hepatitis co-infection was conducted at the human immunodeficiency virus Integrated Clinic Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed using transient elastography with associated controlled attenuation parameter examination (diagnostic cutoff: 238 db/m). A logistic regression test with Poisson regression was used to evaluate factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Results: One hundred and five people with human immunodeficiency virus were included, with a median age of 39 years and 65.7% were men. The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was 52.4%. Factors related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were hypertension (aPR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.03-2.14, p = 0.033) and triglyceride levels (aPR: 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000-1.002, p = 0.024). No human immunodeficiency virus-specific variables were associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Conclusions: More than half of Indonesian people with human immunodeficiency virus on antiretroviral therapy in this study were found to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hypertension and increased triglyceride levels were related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Screening for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease should be implemented as a means of early intervention and to prevent complications.

Keywords: HIV; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; dyslipidemia; highly active antiretroviral therapy; hypertension.