Race and sex differences in ambulatory blood pressure measures among HIV+ adults

Cardiology Encounters for Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Borderline Cardiovascular Disease Risk

BACKGROUND

Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs) with HIV have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Referral to a cardiovascular specialist improves CVD risk factor management in high-risk individuals. However, patient and provider factors impacting the likelihood of UREGs with HIV to have an encounter with a cardiologist are unknown.

METHODS

We evaluated a cohort of UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk (10-year risk ≥ 5% by the pooled cohort equations or ≥ 7.5% by Framingham risk score). Participants received HIV-related care from 2014-2020 at four academic medical centers in the United States (U.S.). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association of patient and provider characteristics with time to first ambulatory cardiology encounter.

RESULTS

A total of 2,039 people with HIV (PWH) and borderline CVD risk were identified. The median age was 45 years (IQR: 36-50); 52% were female; and 94% were Black. Of these participants, 283 (14%) had an ambulatory visit with a cardiologist (17% of women vs. 11% of men, p < .001). In fully adjusted models, older age, higher body mass index (BMI), atrial fibrillation, multimorbidity, urban residence, and no recent insurance were associated with a greater likelihood of an encounter with a cardiologist.

CONCLUSION

In UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk, the strongest determinants of a cardiology encounter were diagnosed CVD, insurance type, and urban residence. Future research is needed to determine the extent to which these encounters impact CVD care practices and outcomes in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025125.

Evaluation of New Hypertension Guidelines on the Prevalence and Control of Hypertension in a Clinical HIV Cohort: A Community-Based Study

The prevalence and control of hypertension (HTN) among people with HIV (PWH) have not been widely studied since the release of newer 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines ("new guidelines"). To address this research gap, we evaluated and compared the prevalence and control of HTN using both 2003 JNC 7 ("old guidelines") and new guidelines. We identified 3,206 PWH with HTN from the DC Cohort study in Washington, DC, between January 2018 and June 2019. We defined HTN using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9/-10 diagnosis codes for HTN or ≥2 blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained at least 1 month apart (>139/89 mm Hg per old or >129/79 mm Hg per new guidelines). We defined HTN control based on recent BP (≤129/≤79 mm Hg per new guidelines). We identified socio-demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and co-morbidities associated with HTN control using multivariable logistic regression [adjusted odds ratio (aOR); 95% confidence interval (CI)]. The prevalence of HTN was 50.9% per old versus 62.2% per new guidelines. Of the 3,206 PWH with HTN, 887 (27.7%) had a recent BP ≤129/≤79 mm Hg, 1,196 (37.3%) had a BP 130-139/80-89 mm Hg, and 1,123 (35.0%) had a BP ≥140/≥90 mm Hg. After adjusting for socio-demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and co-morbidities, factors associated with HTN control included age 60-69 (vs. <40) years (aOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.98), Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic Black) race/ethnicity (aOR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.04-2.15), receipt of HIV care at a hospital-based (vs. community-based) clinic (aOR 1.21; 95% CI: 1.00-1.47), being unemployed (aOR 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11-1.83), and diabetes (aOR 1.35; 95% CI: 1.13-1.63). In a large urban cohort of PWH, nearly two-thirds had HTN and less than one-third of those met new guideline criteria. Our data suggest that more aggressive HTN control is warranted among PWH, with additional attention to younger patients and non-Hispanic Black patients.

Race differences in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters

BACKGROUND

Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) are higher among Black compared with White adults. With 48 to 72 BP measurements obtained over 24 h, ABPM can generate parameters other than mean BP that are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. There are few data on race differences in ABPM parameters other than mean BP.

METHODS

To estimate differences between White and Black participants in ABPM parameters, we used pooled data from five US-based studies in which participants completed ABPM (n = 2580). We calculated measures of SBP and DBP level, including mean, load, peak, and measures of SBP and DBP variability, including average real variability (ARV) and peak increase.

RESULTS

There were 1513 (58.6%) Black and 1067 (41.4%) White participants with mean ages of 56.1 and 49.0 years, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, asleep SBP and DBP load were 5.7% (95% CI: 3.5-7.9%) and 2.7% (95% CI: 1.1-4.3%) higher, respectively, among Black compared with White participants. Black compared with White participants also had higher awake DBP ARV (0.3 [95%CI: 0.0-0.6] mmHg) and peak increase in DBP (0.4 [95% CI: 0.0-0.8] mmHg). There was no evidence of Black:White differences in awake measures of SBP level, asleep peak SBP or DBP, awake and asleep measures of SBP variability or asleep measures of DBP variability after multivariable adjustment.

CONCLUSION

Asleep SBP load, awake DBP ARV and peak increase in awake DBP were higher in Black compared to White participants, independent of mean BP on ABPM.

Risk of Incident New-Onset Arterial Hypertension After COVID-19 Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Arterial Hypertension (HT) has been described as a common comorbidity and independent risk factor of short-term outcome in COVID-19 patients. However, data regarding the risk of new-onset HT during the post-acute phase of COVID-19 are scant.

AIM

We assess the risk of new-onset HT in COVID-19 survivors within one year from the index infection by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data.

METHODS

Data were obtained searching MEDLINE and Scopus for all studies published at any time up to February 11, 2023, and reporting the long-term risk of new-onset HT in COVID-19 survivors. Risk data were pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects models with Hazard ratio (HR) as the effect measure with 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using I2 statistic.

RESULTS

Overall, 19,293,346 patients (mean age 54.6 years, 54.6% males) were included in this analysis. Of them, 758,698 survived to COVID-19 infection. Over a mean follow-up of 6.8 months, new-onset HT occurred to 12.7 [95% CI 11.4-13.5] out of 1000 patients survived to COVID-19 infection compared to 8.17 [95% CI 7.34-8.53] out of 1000 control subjects. Pooled analysis revealed that recovered COVID-19 patients presented an increased risk of new-onset HT (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.46-1.97, p < 0.0001, I2 = 78.9%) within seven months. This risk was directly influenced by age (p = 0.001), female sex (p = 0.03) and cancer (p < 0.0001) while an indirect association was observed using the follow-up length as moderator (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that new-onset HT represents an important post-acute COVID-19 sequelae.

Estimated blood pressure trajectories and hypertension patterns among pregnant women living with HIV, Haiti, 2007-2017

Hypertension in pregnancy is a key driver of mortality and morbidity among Haitian women. HIV infection and treatment may worsen hypertension and increase cardiovascular disease risk. The authors examined blood pressure and hypertension patterns among 1965 women (2306 pregnancies ending in live births) in a prevention of maternal-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, between 2007 and 2017. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg on two consecutive visits. Latent class analysis assessed trajectories of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and multinomial ordinal logistic regression examined factors associated with higher trajectories. Between 2007-2009 and 2013-2016, hypertension at PMTCT entry increased from 1.3% to 3.8% (p = .005), while incidence at any time during PMTCT follow-up increased from 5.0 to 16.1 per 100 person-years (p < .001). Hypertension detected ≤20 weeks and > 20 weeks of gestation (possible gestational hypertension) increased from 1.1% to 3.5% (p = .003) and from 2.3% to 6.9% (p < .001), respectively. Five MAP trajectories ranged from low-stable to high-increasing. In multivariable analysis controlling for history of antiretroviral therapy, age, parity, and weight, program entry in more recent years was associated with greater odds of higher MAP trajectory (adjusted odds ratio for 2013-2016 vs. 2007-2009 = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.7-5.6). The increasing prevalence and incidence of hypertension highlight a need for screening and management prior to PMTCT entry and during follow-up. In a population with limited access to chronic disease care, and where many deliveries occur outside of a clinical setting, the period of PMTCT follow-up represents an opportunity to diagnose and initiate management of preexisting and pregnancy-related hypertension.

Sex Differences in Non-AIDS Comorbidities Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Women are grossly underrepresented in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical and translational research. This is concerning given that people with HIV (PWH) are living longer, and thus accumulating aging-related non-AIDS comorbidities (NACMs); emerging evidence suggests that women are at higher risk of NACM development and progression compared with men. It is widely recognized that women vs men have greater immune activation in response to many viruses, including HIV-1; this likely influences sex-differential NACM development related to differences in HIV-associated chronic inflammation. Furthermore, many sociobehavioral factors that contribute to aging-related NACMs are known to differ by sex. The objectives of this review were to (1) synthesize sex-stratified data on 4 NACMs among PWH: bone disease, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and neurocognitive impairment; (2) evaluate the characteristics of key studies assessing sex differences in NACMs; and (3) introduce potential biological and psychosocial mechanisms contributing to emerging trends in sex-differential NACM risk and outcomes among PWH.

24-h-Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Sub-Saharan Africa: Hypertension Phenotypes and Dipping Patterns in Malawian HIV+ Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy

Background:

Cardiovascular disease and especially hypertension are a growing problem among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives:

As robust data on hypertension phenotypes associated with distinct cardiovascular risks among PLHIV are limited, we aimed to assess the frequency of white-coat (WCH), masked (MH) hypertension, and blood pressure dipping-patterns in a group of Malawian PLHIV.

Methods:

As part of the prospective Lighthouse-Tenofovir-Cohort-Study, we analyzed clinical, laboratory and 24-h-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data of PLHIV from urban Lilongwe with treated or untreated hypertension or raised office blood pressure (OBP) during routine study-visits.

Results:

118 PLHIV were included and data of 117 participants could be analyzed. Twenty–four-hour ABPM normotension was found in a total of 73 PLHIV including 14/37 on antihypertensive treatment (37.8%). Using strict definitions, i.e. normal OBP plus normal mean BP for all periods of ABPM, controlled hypertension was found in only 4/37 (10.8%) PLHIV on antihypertensive treatment while true normotension was observed in 10/24 untreated patients (41.7%) with previously diagnosed hypertension and 22/56 patients (39.3%) without a medical history of hypertension. WCH with normal BP during all periods of 24-h-ABPM was identified in 12/64 OBP-hypertensive PLHIV (18.8%), primarily in patients with grade 1 hypertension (11/41 patients; 26.8%). MH was found in 17/53 PLHIV with OBP-normotension (32.1%), predominantly in patients with high normal BP (11/20 patients; 55%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate tended to be lower in MH compared to strictly defined normotensive PLHIV (92.0±20.4 vs. 104.8±15.7 ml/min/m²). 64.1 percent of PLHIV (59.5% with 24-h hypertension and 66.7% with 24-h normotension) had abnormal systolic dipping.

Conclusion:

The high prevalence of WCH and MH with signs of early renal end-organ damage and an abnormal dipping in approximately 2/3 of PLHIV warrants further investigation as these factors may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk in PLHIV in resource-limited settings like Malawi.

Clinical Trial Registration:

https://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02381275), registered March 6th, 2015.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in HIV-Infected Patients: Usefulness for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Background:

There is a lack of consensus regarding the risk of hypertension in HIV-infected patients compared to the general population. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the most accurate method for the hypertension diagnosis. Nevertheless, it is rarely used in HIV clinical care.

Materials and Methods:

All HIV-infected patients who underwent 24 hours ABPM were included. The agreement between office blood pressure (BP) readings and ABPM was analyzed. The rate of patients with masked hypertension (MH), isolated clinical hypertension, and nocturnal hypertension was obtained. Furthermore, it was analyzed if the differences between both methods may affect the cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment.

Results:

A total of 116 patients were included. The κ coefficient between office BP and ABPM was 0.248. Over a quarter of the cohort was diagnosed with MH—25.8% (CI 95% 17.7%-34.0%), and 12% (CI 95%: 6.1%-16.1%) was diagnosed with ICH. Moreover, 19% of patients had hypertension exclusively during the night. The patients classified as low risk according to the CVR scores had a different diagnosis with ABPM than with office BP (P < .001).

Conclusions:

The agreement between office BP and ABPM was low in HIV-infected patients. Ambulatory BP monitoring is useful in HIV-infected patients as a hypertension diagnosis method, especially among patients classified as low risk.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups living with HIV: A narrative review of the literature

Despite developments to improve health in the United States, racial and ethnic disparities persist. These disparities have profound impact on the wellbeing of historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups. This narrative review explores disparities by race in people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We discuss selected common social determinants of health for both of these conditions which include; regional historical policies, incarceration, and neighborhood effects. Data on racial disparities for persons living with comorbid HIV and CVD are lacking. We found few published articles (n = 7) describing racial disparities for persons living with both comorbid HIV and CVD. Efforts to reduce CVD morbidity in historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups with HIV must address participation in clinical research, social determinants of health and translation of research into clinical practice.

High prevalence of "non-dipping" blood pressure and vascular stiffness in HIV-infected South Africans on antiretrovirals

BACKGROUND

HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk of tissue inflammation and accelerated vascular aging ('inflamm-aging'). Abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythms such as non-dipping may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in HIV infected individuals. However, little data exists on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and measures of vascular stiffness in the black African HIV infected population.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional analysis of otherwise well, HIV infected outpatients on ART for >5 years. Study assessments included: 24hr ABP monitoring, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central aortic systolic pressure (CASP) using a AtCor Medical Sphygmocor device, fasting lipogram, oral glucose tolerance test, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and anthropometric data. Patients completed a questionnaire of autonomic symptoms. CD4+ counts and viral loads were obtained from the National Laboratory results system.

RESULTS

Sixty seven black participants were included in the analysis of whom 91% (n = 61) were female with a mean age of 42.2 ± 8.6 years. The median duration on ART was 7.5 years (IQR = 6-10), 84% were virally supressed and the median CD4 count was 529.5cells/mm3 (IQR = 372.0-686.5). The majority (67%) were classified as overweight and 76% had an increased waist circumference, yet only 88% of participants were normotensive. A hsCRP level in the high cardiovascular risk category was found in 68% of participants. The prevalence of non-dipping BP was 65%. Interestingly, there was no association on multivariable analysis between dipping status and traditional risk factors for non-dipping BP, such as: obesity, autonomic dysfunction and older age.

CONCLUSION

This relatively young cross-sectional sample of predominantly normotensive, but overweight black women on effective ART >5 years showed: a high prevalence of non-dipping BP, inflammation and vascular stiffness. Causality cannot be inferred but cardiovascular risk reduction should be emphasized in these patients.