Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in an Aging HIV Population: Where Are We Now?

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Antiretroviral therapy has reduced AIDS/HIV deaths, leading to an aging HIV population.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now a significant cause of illness and death in people with HIV.
• HIV-positive individuals face a 1.5-2 fold higher CVD risk compared to HIV-negative peers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the increased cardiovascular disease risk in the aging HIV population.
• To identify factors contributing to excess CVD risk in HIV patients.
• To emphasize the need for CVD risk assessment and intervention in HIV care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current research on HIV and CVD.
• Analysis of contributing factors including traditional risk factors, antiretroviral toxicity, and chronic inflammation.
• Discussion of available CVD risk prediction tools and management strategies.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an emerging major comorbidity in the aging HIV-infected population.
• Excess CVD risk in HIV is attributed to smoking, antiretroviral drug toxicities, chronic inflammation, and immune activation.
• CVD risk prediction tools should be integrated into routine HIV patient care.

Conclusions:

• HIV-infected patients have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Management requires addressing traditional risk factors, antiretroviral therapy side effects, and HIV-specific inflammation.
• Proactive CVD risk assessment and targeted interventions, including lifestyle changes and optimized antiretroviral therapy, are essential.