Echocardiographic abnormalities and associated factors in a cohort of asymptomatic HIV-infected patients

HIV patients have been reported to have a greater prevalence of echocardiographic abnormalities. We aimed to determine the prevalence of these abnormalities and their associated factors. This was an observational study of a cohort of asymptomatic HIV patients. Data were recorded on factors of cardiovascular interest and those related to HIV infection. All the subjects underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram. The study included 196 patients, 85.2% men, mean age 46.4 years, with a mean duration of HIV infection of 123.8 months and 27.6% with AIDS. Of the patients, 94.4% were on antiretroviral therapy and 92.5% of these had an undetectable viral load. The mean CD4 cell count was 544/mm(3). The following echocardiographic abnormalities were found: left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy 28.6%, LV diastolic dysfunction 19.9%, left atrial (LA) dilatation 7.7%, right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction 6.1%, pulmonary hypertension 2.6%, RV dilatation 2%, and (LV) systolic dysfunction 1%. LV hypertrophy was associated with diabetes mellitus (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.8-15.3; p=0.001), LV diastolic dysfunction with age (OR for each extra 5 years 4.4, 95% CI 4.2-4.6; p=0.0001), obesity (OR 4.07, 95% CI 1.6-10.0; p=0.02), alcohol consumption (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.07-6.2; p=0.03) and lower CD4 cell count (OR for each 10 CD4 cells less 10.02, 95% CI 10.00-10.04; p=0.008), and RV systolic dysfunction with hypertension (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.6-18.2; p=0.005). Echocardiographic abnormalities in HIV patients were common, especially LV hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Prospective comparative studies involving the general population are needed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and its treatment in these abnormalities.