Prevalence, screening practices, and adherence to diabetes and hypertension treatment among people living with HIV in the Hohoe Municipality
Introduction: People living with HIV (PLWH) are increasingly at risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension, due to the immunosuppressive effect of the virus. These comorbidities significantly complicate the clinical management of HIV and place additional strain on healthcare systems, especially in low-resource settings like Ghana. We examined the prevalence, screening practices, and treatment adherence for diabetes and hypertension among PLWH in the Hohoe Municipality. Methods: This was a concurrent mixed-methods study conducted among 292 PLWH receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) at the Volta Regional Hospital using a structured questionnaire deployed using Kobo Toolbox. Data collected were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics using STATA v17.0. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%. Results: The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 23.0% and 10.3% respectively. Older PLWH (ages 50-59 years) were significantly more likely to have hypertension (aOR=2.43, 95% CI=0.38–5.88, p=0.012) compared with younger patients (ages 20-29 years). Individuals who had tertiary education were associated with an increased likelihood of developing diabetes (aOR=14.61, 95% CI=1.04-204.78, p=0.047). All participants (100%) have ever been screened for hypertension, while 37.7% of participants had been screened for diabetes. Medication adherence was 88.1% for hypertension and 95.0% for diabetes. However, adherence to follow-up appointments was lower for hypertension (82.3%) and diabetes (85.0%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension among PLWH presents significant public health challenges. Addressing these challenges requires enhancing patient education, strengthening health systems, and improving access to comprehensive care. These actions are essential for reducing the burden of comorbidities and advancing progress toward SDGs 3.3 and 3.4, which aim to end HIV/AIDS epidemics and reduce premature mortality from NCDs.