Cardiovascular system characteristics in HIV/AIDS patients with talaromycosis

Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections (OIs) such as Talaromycosis marneffei (TSM), which is associated with a high mortality rate. Nevertheless, the effect of TSM on the cardiovascular system of affected patients remains elusive. To that end, this research aimed to investigate the impact of TSM on the cardiovascular system in the individuals with HIV/AIDS. Participants were assigned to the HIV/AIDS patients group or the HIV/AIDS patients with TSM (HIV/AIDS+TSM) group. A total of 120 individuals were included in the present study, with 59 in the HIV/AIDS group and 61 in the HIV/AIDS+TSM group. Myocardial serum markers, color Doppler cardiovascular ultrasound (CCU), and 24-h ambulatory electrocardiograph (AECG) data were collected and analyzed for both groups. Compared with the HIV/AIDS group, the HIV/AIDS+TSM group exhibited a significant increase in left and right diameters of the right atrium (LR-RA) and right ventricle (LR-RV), while the anteroposterior diameter of the right ventricle outflow tract (AT-RVOT), the interventricular septal thickness (IVS), and the left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW) were significantly reduced. The HIV/AIDS+TSM group showed higher AECG abnormality rates, particularly for non-sinus rhythms and ST-T changes. Our findings demonstrated significant cardiac functional alterations in HIV/AIDS patients with TSM co-infection compared to HIV/AIDS alone, underscoring the necessity for enhanced cardiovascular monitoring in this vulnerable population.