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A Meta-Analysis of Different Types of Cardiac Adipose Tissue in HIV Patients
Guang Song1, Wei Qiao1, Lu Sun1
1Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Insights
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness is elevated in individuals with HIV, potentially increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Further research is needed to clarify the link between EAT/pericardial fat volume and HIV.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Antiretroviral therapy has chronicized HIV infection, increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial fat (PCF) are linked to CVD.
- The relationship between cardiac adipose tissue and HIV is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial fat (PCF) and HIV.
- To determine if HIV status influences cardiac fat deposits.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing EAT/PCF in HIV patients and controls.
- Searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus.
- Assessed associations using standard mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
- Conducted trial sequential analysis to evaluate evidence sufficiency.
Main Results:
- Included 2561 HIV patients and 1767 controls.
- Significantly higher EAT thickness in HIV patients (SMD = 0.59, P = 0.001).
- EAT volume and PCF volume showed no significant difference between HIV patients and controls.
Conclusions:
- HIV-infected individuals exhibit increased EAT thickness.
- The association between EAT/PCF volume and HIV requires further investigation.
Background:
Antiretroviral therapy transformed HIV infection into a chronic disease but accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial fat (PCF) have close relationships with CVD. The associations between these two cardiac adipose tissue and HIV are unclear.
Methods:
Eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus from database inception to March 24, 2020. The summarized standard mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to assess the association between EAT/PCF and HIV. Subgroup analysis was performed based on EAT types. Trial sequential analysis was conducted to estimate whether the evidence of the results is sufficient.
Results:
In total, 2561 HIV patients and 1767 non-HIV participants were included. Compared to the control group, EAT was significantly higher in the HIV overall group and subgroup with EAT thickness (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.24-0.95, P = 0.001; SMD = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.41-1.79, P = 0.002); however, the EAT volume and PCF volume were unchanged in the HIV group (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI: -0.07-0.39, P = 0.169; WMD = 10.78, 95% CI: -14.11-35.67, P = 0.396). Trial sequential analysis indicated that the available samples were sufficient in the HIV overall group and subgroup with EAT thickness, and more studies are needed for EAT volume and PCF volume.
Conclusions:
EAT thickness was significantly higher in patients with HIV. The association between EAT/PCF volume and HIV needs more studies to confirm.
