Background:

Since the development of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), the morbidity and mortality caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have considerably decreased [1], as a result, HAART has increased the life expectancy of HIV-positive individuals [2,3]. HIV therapy has become more difficult as lifestyle-related co-morbidities such hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases have become more prevalent in HIV-infected patients with longer life expectancies [4]. There are numerous established risk factors (RFs) for the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMetS) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) [2, 3]. Even when HIV infection is well-controlled with HAART, the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other type of CVD is double that of those without the virus [5, 6].

Approximately 40.4 million [32.9-51.3 million] people have died from HIV since the epidemic's start, while 85.6 million [65.0-113.0 million] individuals have contracted the infection. At the end of 2022, there were 39.0 million [33.1-45.7 million] HIV-positive individuals worldwide. According to estimates, 0.7% [0.6%–0.8%] of adults in the world between the ages of 15 and 49 have HIV, while the severity of the epidemic continues to vary greatly between different nations and areas. The WHO with approximately one in every twenty-five adults (3.2%) carrying HIV and making up more than two-thirds of all HIV-positive people worldwide, the African region continues to be the most severely affected [7]. Adult HIV prevalence in Tanzania is estimated at 5%, with regional HIV prevalence ranging from 0.5 % (Zanzibar) to 11.4% (Njombe). Patients with comorbidities typically require more medical attention, which raises the expense of care while lowering the patient's capacity for daily living. They can, however, vary in severity.