Bagenda, Charles NkubiNantongo, CarolSsemwanga, ElastusMugisa, Michael JuniorAkoth, Jesca WafwoyoNzaramba, DanielKalyetsi, RogersJohn, Elizabeth A.Tumusiime, JaziraAinebyoona, BlendarOmara, ShadrachMwesigye, VicentLumumba, Sylvia AchiengLubwama, ConradMusinguzi, BensonAmpaire, LucasNassali, RoseItabangi, HerbertOsuwat, Lawrence ObadoSsenkumba, BrianOmolo, Ronald Ouma2026-03-232026-03-232026-02-20Bagenda, C. N., Nantongo, C., Ssemwanga, E., Mugisa, M. J., Akoth, J. W., Nzaramba, D., ... & Omolo, R. O. (2026). Association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy: A cross-sectional study in Southwestern Uganda. BMC Research Notes.1756-0500https://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/941This study advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), by identifying non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as a predictor of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease among individuals living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus receiving Dolutegravir therapy. The findings support National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) by strengthening disease prevention, enhancing clinical decision-making, and informing evidence-based health interventions to improve chronic disease management and public health outcomes in Uganda.Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, an aggregate marker of atherogenic lipoproteins, has been implicated in metabolic dysfunction and may predict non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk. Our study investigated the association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy in southwestern Uganda. We conducted a secondary analysis of data obtained from a cross-sectional study of 377 adults who had been on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy for ≥ 12 months at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, southwestern Uganda. Of the 377 participants, 42(11.1%; 95CI: 8.3–14.8) had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We observed a significant association between high non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; second tertile (aOR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.06–8.99, p = 0.039) and third tertile (aOR = 4.46, 95% CI: 1.25–15.88, p = 0.021). At an optimal cut-off of ≥ 113.4 with a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 48%, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had a significant discriminative ability; AUC = 0.654(95%CI:0.561–0.747) to distinguish participants with from those without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, High non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a potential predictor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.enNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseAtherogenic lipidFatty liver indexArticle