Accelerated cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction risk in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management, reducing AIDS progression and mortality.
• Increased longevity in HIV-infected patients shifts focus to non-AIDS comorbidities, notably cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• HIV itself and antiretroviral drugs can contribute to accelerated CVD development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the risk of accelerated CVD in HIV-infected individuals.
• To explore viral and therapy-related mechanisms contributing to CVD in this population.
• To outline clinical features and provide management guidelines for CVD risk reduction in HIV patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on HIV, antiretroviral therapy, and cardiovascular disease.
• Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking HIV and HAART to CVD.
• Synthesis of clinical observations and current management strategies.

Main Results:

• CVD is an emerging concern for long-living HIV patients.
• Mechanisms include HIV-related inflammation and HAART-induced metabolic complications.
• While myocardial infarction deaths are rare compared to AIDS progression, CVD risk is significant.

Conclusions:

• The benefits of HAART in managing HIV far outweigh the associated CVD risks.
• Proactive identification, monitoring, and treatment of CVD risk factors are crucial for HIV-positive individuals.
• Integrating CVD risk management into standard HIV care is essential for improving patient outcomes.