Brief Report: Detectable Coronary Artery Score Among People Living With HIV With Regional, Study, and Population

Jose Luis Paredes1, Franco Matos2, Danai Bemplidaki3

  • 1Internal Medicine, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Insights

Nearly half of people living with HIV (PLWH) have detectable coronary artery calcium (CAC), indicating increased cardiovascular risk. Findings reveal significant regional and population differences in CAC prevalence among PLWH.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • People living with HIV (PLWH) face elevated risks of coronary artery disease due to chronic inflammation and antiretroviral therapies.
  • Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is a key non-invasive indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk.
  • Prior reviews noted high CAC prevalence in PLWH but lacked detailed data on severity and geographic or demographic variations.

Conclusions:

  • Almost half of people living with HIV exhibit detectable coronary artery calcium, underscoring a significant cardiovascular risk.
  • Substantial regional and population-level disparities in CAC prevalence necessitate tailored cardiovascular screening strategies for PLWH.
  • Further research is warranted to assess the clinical utility of CAC scoring in guiding preventive therapies for this population.
Abstract

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