Cases (baseline CD4+ T cell count ≤ 200 cells/μL) were older (p = 0.009), presented lower CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, and had a lower CD4/CD8 ratio (p < 0.001), but had a higher plasma viral load (VL) (p < 0.001) and prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) (p = 0.043) than controls (baseline CD4+ T cell count > 200 cells/μL) at baseline. Here, CD8A is linked to hypertensive disorder.