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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
05:53

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty

Published on: July 24, 2013

[Patient-related cardiovascular risk factors in the HIV-infected population]

Joaquín Portilla1

  • 1Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España. portilla_joa@gva.es

Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica
|February 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular risk in HIV patients involves traditional factors and those from HIV infection and its treatment. Increased prevalence of smoking, diabetes, and dyslipidemia necessitates tailored risk assessment and prevention strategies for this growing population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Arteriosclerosis pathogenesis in HIV-infected patients is multifactorial, involving traditional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and those specific to HIV and its treatment.
  • HIV infection is increasingly prevalent in men, with improved life expectancy due to highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  • Certain CVRF, including smoking, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, are more common in HIV-infected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the complex interplay of cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-infected patients.
  • To highlight the increased prevalence of traditional CVRF in the HIV-positive population.
  • To emphasize the need for specific cardiovascular risk assessment models for HIV patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established cardiovascular risk factors in the general population.
  • Analysis of factors related to highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and HIV infection.
  • Examination of longitudinal cohort studies on CVRF and cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals.

Main Results:

  • Higher prevalence of smoking (37-72%), diabetes mellitus (17%), insulin resistance (17-51%), dyslipidemia (22-49%), and hypertriglyceridemia (34%) observed in HIV patients.
  • These elevated CVRF are likely linked to lifestyle factors and prolonged exposure to HAART, particularly certain antiretroviral drugs.
  • While overall cardiovascular risk may be low, traditional CVRF gain importance with age in HIV-infected individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Specific mathematical models are needed to accurately calculate individual cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients.
  • Tailored cardiovascular prevention strategies are essential for this population.
  • Understanding the unique risk profile is crucial for managing long-term health in aging HIV patients.

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