According to WHO, there are about 38 million people living with HIV in the world. Highly active retroviral therapy has moved this disease from fatal to chronic, but the infection can seriously affect the health of these people. A new study has shown that such people are especially prone to cardiovascular disease. wp-content/uploads/2023/03/b9b325b426451c716d61a86e66293470.jpg» />
Specialists from the University of Copenhagen Hospital presented the results of their scientific work during the 18th European AIDS Conference, Medscape reports. They examined the heart and vascular health of 1,099 patients diagnosed with HIV infection since 2015. Almost all volunteers were male (89%), 96% had an undetectable viral load due to therapy.
Cardiac angiography revealed signs of coronary artery disease in 54% of participants, about a quarter of them in a mild and reversible form. However, in 17%, the examination confirmed obstructive coronary artery disease.
When scientists analyzed risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease, it turned out that one in four study participants smoked, one in five had elevated cholesterol levels, 42% suffered from high blood pressure, and almost all regularly take highly active retroviral therapy. Although these drugs increase the risk of heart disease, the authors of the study found no association with their use.
“We adjusted the data for the time elapsed since the diagnosis of HIV infection, and it turned out that none of the common drugs is not associated with worse heart health,” said Andreas Knudsen, lead author of the study.
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Scientists have also determined that every 5 years, the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis in patients with HIV increases by 20%, and the severity of the disease by 23%. Men are especially vulnerable: their risk of developing atherosclerosis is increased by almost 2.5 times and the probability of a severe form is 95% more likely. The presence of diabetes in such people is associated with an almost threefold increase in the risk of cardiovascular pathologies.
Earlier, American scientists found that people with HIV have a 58% higher risk of developing dementia compared to their peers who do not have an infection . In addition, in these patients, the disease debuts on average 10-11 years earlier (67 years versus 78 years). >
“Age-associated dementia is becoming a major problem for people with HIV and the health care providers who provide their care. Even people who receive timely therapy are at increased risk of dementia,” the study authors said.