TITLE:
Cardiac Abnormalities among Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
AUTHORS:
Benjamin Masikini Lupenzi, Aliocha Natuhoyila Nkodila, Eulether Vita Kintoki, Jean Bosco Kasiam, Benjamin Longo-Mbenza
KEYWORDS:
Cardiac Abnormalities, HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy, Democratic Republic of the Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
5,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Comparative data on the cardiac impact of different antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in sub-Saharan Africa remain limited. The aim of this study was to determine which ART regimen is most associated with cardiac abnormalities during follow-up of patients at the University Clinics of Kinshasa. Methods: A historical cohort study was conducted at the University Clinics of Kinshasa among adult patients living with HIV who had been receiving ART for at least six months. Clinical, biological, and echocardiographic data were collected from medical records, standardized interviews, and clinical examinations. Patients were compared according to the ART regimen received: TDF + 3TC + EFV or TDF + 3TC + LPV/r. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25, with a significance threshold set at p Results: A total of 154 patients were included, with a mean age of 50.6 ± 12 years; 52.6% were male. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding age, sex, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, CD4 count (204.5 cells/mm3), or median viral load (510 copies/mL). Patients receiving LPV/r more frequently presented with asthenia (17.6% vs 3.6%, p = 0.041), tachycardia (29.4% vs 14.6%, p = 0.011), higher white blood cell counts (p = 0.028), and significantly elevated C-reactive protein levels (77.8 vs 40.0 mg/dL, p = 0.014). Blood urea levels were also higher in this group (p = 0.018). Dilated cardiomyopathy was observed only in patients receiving EFV (16.8%, p = 0.016), whereas segmental wall motion abnormalities were more frequent in patients treated with LPV/r (17.6%, p = 0.030). Conclusion: Cardiac abnormalities and inflammation are common among people living with HIV receiving ART, with distinct profiles depending on the therapeutic regimen. These findings highlight the need for systematic and individualized cardiovascular monitoring in this population.