LIPID PROFILE AND WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT AMONG HIV-POSITIVE MEN ON HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE, NIGERIA
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Background: HIV infection and long-term antiretroviral therapy may influence lipid metabolism and hematological parameters, potentially contributing to increased cardiovascular and other chronic disease risks. However, evidence regarding these changes among men living with HIV in Nigeria remains limited. Objective: This study evaluated lipid-profile parameters and white blood cell (WBC) count among HIV-positive men receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, compared with HAART-naïve HIV-positive men and HIV-negative controls. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between March and October 2025 among 90 adult men comprising 50 HIV-positive participants receiving HAART, 10 HAART-naïve HIV-positive participants, and 30 HIV-negative controls. Fasting blood samples were collected for determination of WBC count, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Data were analysed using appropriate comparative statistical procedures, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: WBC count did not differ significantly among controls (6,343.33 ± 427.20 cells/µL), HAART-naïve participants (7,210.00 ± 908.04 cells/µL), and HAART-treated participants (6,696.00 ± 363.00 cells/µL; p = 0.625). In contrast, TG concentrations differed significantly (p < 0.001), with the highest value among HAART-treated participants (161.58 ± 5.12 mg/dL). HDL-C also differed significantly (p < 0.001), while LDL-C showed a significant between-group difference (p = 0.005), with the highest LDL-C among HAART-naïve participants. Conclusion: HIV and HAART status were associated with significant differences in individual lipid parameters but not total WBC count. Routine lipid monitoring should therefore form an integral component of long-term HIV care to facilitate early recognition and management of dyslipidemia and associated cardiovascular.