Provider compliance with guidelines for management of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients

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.

Scaling-up and scaling-out the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach to optimize the hypertension diagnosis and care cascade for HIV infected individuals (SCALE SAIA-HTN): a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Undiagnosed and untreated hypertension is a main driver of cardiovascular disease and disproportionately affects persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in low- and middle-income countries. Across sub-Saharan Africa, guideline application to screen and manage hypertension among PLHIV is inconsistent due to poor service readiness, low health worker motivation, and limited integration of hypertension screening and management within HIV care services. In Mozambique, where the adult HIV prevalence is over 13%, an estimated 39% of adults have hypertension. As the only scaled chronic care service in the county, the HIV treatment platform presents an opportunity to standardize and scale hypertension care services. Low-cost, multi-component systems-level strategies such as the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA) have been found effective at integrating hypertension and HIV services to improve the effectiveness of hypertension care delivery for PLHIV, reduce drop-offs in care, and improve service quality. To build off lessons learned from a recently completed cluster randomized trial (SAIA-HTN) and establish a robust evidence base on the effectiveness of SAIA at scale, we evaluated a scaled-delivery model of SAIA (SCALE SAIA-HTN) using existing district health management structures to facilitate SAIA across six districts of Maputo Province, Mozambique.

METHODS

This study employs a stepped-wedge design with randomization at the district level. The SAIA strategy will be "scaled up" with delivery by district health supervisors (rather than research staff) and will be "scaled out" via expansion to Southern Mozambique, to 18 facilities across six districts in Maputo Province. SCALE SAIA-HTN will be introduced over three, 9-month waves of intensive intervention, where technical support will be provided to facilities and district managers by study team members from the Mozambican National Institute of Health. Our evaluation of SCALE SAIA-HTN will be guided by the RE-AIM framework and will seek to estimate the budget impact from the payer's perspective.

DISCUSSION

SAIA packages user-friendly systems engineering tools to support decision-making by frontline health workers and to identify low-cost, contextually relevant improvement strategies. By integrating SAIA delivery into routine management structures, this pragmatic trial will determine an effective strategy for national scale-up and inform program planning.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05002322 (registered 02/15/2023).

Cardiovascular health among persons with HIV without existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVES

We sought to characterize atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and metrics of cardiovascular health in persons with HIV (PWH) eligible for primary prevention of ASCVD.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study of PWH 40 years and older without documented ASCVD who received care at three HIV clinics in San Francisco from 2019 to 2022.

METHODS

We used ICD-10 codes and electronic health record data to assess ASCVD risk and cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics for nicotine exposure, BMI, lipids, glucose, and blood pressure (BP).

RESULTS

Among 2567 PWH eligible for primary prevention of ASCVD, the median age was 55 years, 14% were women, and 95% were on antiretroviral therapy. Seventy-seven percent had undergone complete assessment of ASCVD risk factors, and 50% of these patients had intermediate-high ASCVD risk (≥7.5%). Of those with hypertension, 39% were prescribed an antihypertensive. Among those eligible, 43% were prescribed a statin. The mean LE8 cardiovascular health score [0--100 (best health)] was 55.1 for nicotine exposure, 71.3 for BMI, 70.4 for lipids, 81.2 for blood glucose, 56.0 for BP, with an average score of 66.2 across the five metrics. Patients with Medicare insurance, black patients, and those with sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease had on average lower cardiovascular health scores; patients with undetectable viral loads had higher cardiovascular health scores.

CONCLUSION

We highlight opportunities for improving primary prevention of ASCVD among PWH, especially in the areas of guideline-based therapy, nicotine exposure, and BP control.

Statins Utilization in Adults With HIV: The Treatment Gap and Predictors of Statin Initiation

BACKGROUND

We characterized trends in statin eligibility and subsequent statin initiation among people with HIV (PWH) from 2001 to 2017 and identified predictors of statin initiation between 2014 and 2017.

SETTING

PWH participating in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) enrolled in 12 US cohorts collecting data on statin eligibility criteria/prescriptions from 2001 to 2017.

METHODS

We determined the annual proportion eligible for statins, initiating statins, and median waiting time (from statin eligibility to initiation). Eligibility was defined using ATP III guidelines (2001-2013) and ACC/AHA guidelines (2014-2017). We assessed initiation predictors in 2014-2017 among statin-eligible PWH using Poisson regression, estimating adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

Among 16,409 PWH, 7386 (45%) met statin eligibility criteria per guidelines (2001-2017). From 2001 to 2013, statin eligibility ranged from 22% to 25%. Initiation increased from 13% to 45%. In 2014, 51% were statin-eligible, among whom 25% initiated statins, which increased to 32% by 2017. Median waiting time to initiation among those we observed declined over time. Per 10-year increase in age, initiation increased 46% (aPR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.29 to 1.67). Per 1-year increase in calendar year from 2014 to 2017, there was a 41% increase in the likelihood of statin initiation (aPR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.58).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a substantial statin treatment gap, amplified by the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Measures are warranted to clarify reasons we observe this gap, and if necessary, increase statin use consistent with guidelines including efforts to help providers identify appropriate candidates.

Perspectives of HIV specialists and cardiologists on the specialty referral process for people living with HIV: a qualitative descriptive study

Background

Cardiology care may be beneficial for risk factor management in people living with HIV (PLWH), yet limited information is available about the referral process from the perspectives of HIV specialists and cardiologists.

Methods

We conducted 28 qualitative interviews at academic medical centers in the United States from December 2019 to February 2020 using components of the Specialty Referral Process Framework: referral decision, entry into referral care, and care integration. We analyzed the data using applied thematic analysis.

Results

Reasons for cardiology referral most commonly included secondary prevention, uncontrolled risk factors, cardiac symptoms, and medication management. Facilitators in the referral process included ease of referral, personal relationships between HIV specialists and cardiologists, and close proximity of the clinic to the patient’s home. Barriers included lack of transportation, transportation costs, insurance coverage gaps, stigma, and patient reluctance.

Conclusions

Our results will inform future studies on implementation strategies aimed at improving the specialty referral process for PLWH.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025125.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08015-0.

Short Communication: Predictive Value of HIV-Related Versus Traditional Risk Factors for Coronary Atherosclerosis in People Aging with HIV

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of morbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH). We compared the predictive value of HIV-related and traditional CVD risk factors to assess which factors best predict the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in PLWH. This is a cross-sectional study in PLWH over 50 years of age who performed computed tomography coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring between 2009 and 2019 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The following outcomes were analyzed: CAC = 0 (no calcification), CAC >0 (any calcification), CAC >100 (moderate calcification), and CAC >400 (severe calcification). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of coronary calcification. A total of 744 patients were included (mean age 56 ± 5.7 years, 94.8% male, 84% white). A CAC >0 was found in 392 (52.7%), CAC >100 in 90 (12.1%), and CAC >400 in 42 (5.6%) subjects. CAC >100 was strongly associated with hypertension [odds ratio, OR: 2.91, (95% confidence interval: 1.93-4.36), p < .001], dyslipidemia [2.71 (1.81-4.06), p < .001], and diabetes [2.53 (1.29-4.96), p = .01]. Regarding HIV-specific factors, a significant association was found with exposure (>6 years) to protease inhibitors [1.67 (1.06-2.61), p = .05], whereas exposure to tenofovir (>8 years) was negatively associated with CAC >100 [0.54 (0.30-0.98), p = .05]. Despite the high prevalence of hypertension (45.4%) only 21.5% were on antihypertensives, whereas only 29.2% of eligible candidates were receiving lipid-lowering drugs for primary prevention of CVD. Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors remain the strongest predictors of coronary atherosclerosis in PLWH as in the general population. These results underscore the importance of optimizing treatment of hypertension and promoting primary prevention strategies that may be underused in PLWH.

Switch from Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate to Tenofovir Alafenamide in People Living with HIV: Lipid Changes and Statin Underutilization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Many people living with HIV (PLWH) on stable tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing regimens have switched to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), despite the potential lipid-lowering effect of TDF. We aimed to assess the impact of switching from TDF to TAF on lipids in real-world clinical practice.

METHODS

PLWH prescribed TDF for ≥ 4 weeks who switched to TAF were identified in the OPERA cohort. Patterns of dyslipidemia were compared before and after switch based on NCEP ATPIII guidelines. Elevated 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD ≥ 7.5%) and statin use were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 6423 PLWH switched from TDF to TAF, the proportion with dyslipidemia/severe dyslipidemia observed after switch from TDF to TAF increased statistically significantly (p < 0.0001) with total cholesterol (5-10%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (16-23%), and triglycerides (21-27%), but decreased statistically significantly with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (35-30%, p < 0.0001). These patterns of dyslipidemia persisted in sensitivity analyses restricted to PLWH who maintained all other antiretrovirals (N = 4328) or stratified by pharmaco-enhancer use before and after switch. An elevated ASCVD risk was detected in 29% before and 31% after switch. As many as 59% of PLWH with an elevated ASCVD risk were not prescribed a statin after switch from TDF to TAF.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, diverse population of PLWH in the USA, the switch from TDF to TAF was associated with development of less favorable lipid profiles, regardless of pharmaco-enhancers or third-agent use. Statins remained underutilized after a switch from TDF to TAF.

Metabolic Control and Determinants Among HIV-Infected Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Tertiary Clinic in Botswana

PURPOSE

We primarily aimed at determining the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abnormal individual metabolic control variables in HIV-infected participants as compared to HIV-uninfected participants given current concerns. Our secondary objective was to determine the predictors of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic control variables among the study participants to guide future management.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A descriptive, case-matched cross-sectional study for four months from 15th June 2019 to 15th October 2019 at Block 6 Diabetes Reference Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. We compared the proportions of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic control variables based on gender and HIV status by means of bivariate analysis (Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test) to determine factors associated with metabolic control. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Overall, 86% of the study participants were found to have metabolic syndrome by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria with 79.8% among HIV-infected and 89.1% among HIV-negative participants (p-value = 0.018). Older age was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (p-value = 0.008). Female gender was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome as compared to male gender (P-value < 0.001), and with a statistically significant higher proportion of low HDL-C compared to males (P-value < 0.001). Female participants were significantly more likely to be obese as compared to males (P-value < 0.001). High triglycerides were more common in HIV-infected compared to HIV-negative participants (P-value = 0.004). HIV-negative participants were more likely to be obese as compared to HIV-infected participants (P-value = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Metabolic syndrome is an appreciable problem in this tertiary clinic in Botswana for both HIV-infected and HIV-negative participants. Future prospective studies are warranted in our setting and similar sub-Saharan settings to enhance understanding of the role played by HAART in causing the metabolic syndrome, and the implications for future patient management.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Management in Persons With HIV: Does Clinician Specialty Matter?

Background

The impact of clinician specialty on cardiovascular disease risk factor outcomes among persons with HIV (PWH) is unclear.

Methods

PWH receiving care at 3 Southeastern US academic HIV clinics between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively stratified into 5 groups based on the specialty of the clinician managing their hypertension or hyperlipidemia. Patients were followed until first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event, death, or end of study. Outcomes of interest were meeting 8th Joint National Commission (JNC-8) blood pressure (BP) goals and National Lipid Association (NLA) non–high-density lipoprotein (HDL) goals for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, respectively. Point estimates for associated risk factors were generated using modified Poisson regression with robust error variance.

Results

Of 1667 PWH in the analysis, 965 had hypertension, 205 had hyperlipidemia, and 497 had both diagnoses. At study start, the median patient age was 52 years, 66% were Black, and 65% identified as male. Among persons with hypertension, 24% were managed by an infectious diseases (ID) clinician alone, and 5% were co-managed by an ID clinician and a primary care clinician (PCC). Persons managed by an ID clinician were less likely to meet JNC-8 hypertension targets at the end of observation than the rest of the cohort (relative risk [RR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75–0.95), but when mean study blood pressure was considered, there was no difference between persons managed by ID and the rest of the cohort (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.88–1.05). There was no significant association between the ID clinician managing hyperlipidemia and meeting NLA non-HDL goals (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.68–1.15).

Conclusions

Clinician specialty may play a role in suboptimal hypertension outcomes in persons with HIV.

Cholesterol-lowering effect of statin therapy in a clinical HIV cohort: an application of double propensity score adjustment

PURPOSE

Propensity score matching (PSM) is often used to estimate the average treatment effect among the treated (ATT) using observational data. We demonstrate how the use of "double propensity score adjustment" can reduce residual confounding and avoid bias due to incomplete matching compared with traditional PSM methods.

METHODS

The DC Cohort is an observational clinical HIV cohort in Washington, DC. We compared the mean percent change in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentration after 3-12 months between participants treated and participants not treated with statin therapy between 2011 and 2018. We conducted traditional PSM procedures (optimal, nearest neighbor, and nearest neighbor caliper matching) and double propensity score adjustment.

RESULTS

Among 202 treated and 1252 untreated participants, the ATT was -14.5% (95% CI: -18.4, -10.6) after optimal matching (202 matched pairs; 15/22 covariates balanced), -14.9% (-18.9, -11.0) after nearest neighbor matching (202 matched pairs; 17/22 covariates balanced), and -12.0% (-16.5, -7.5) after nearest neighbor caliper matching (153 matched pairs; 21/22 covariates balanced). After double propensity score adjustment, the ATT was -13.0% (-16.0, -10.1).

CONCLUSIONS

In PSM analyses, double propensity score adjustment is a readily accessible alternative approach for estimating ATTs when sufficient covariate balance between treatment groups cannot be achieved without excluding treated participants.

Systems analysis and improvement approach to optimize the hypertension diagnosis and care cascade for PLHIV individuals (SAIA-HTN): a hybrid type III cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Across sub-Saharan Africa, evidence-based clinical guidelines to screen and manage hypertension exist; however, country level application is low due to lack of service readiness, uneven health worker motivation, weak accountability of health worker performance, and poor integration of hypertension screening and management with chronic care services. The systems analysis and improvement approach (SAIA) is an evidence-based implementation strategy that combines systems engineering tools into a five-step, facility-level package to improve understanding of gaps (cascade analysis), guide identification and prioritization of low-cost workflow modifications (process mapping), and iteratively test and redesign these modifications (continuous quality improvement). As hypertension screening and management are integrated into chronic care services in sub-Saharan Africa, an opportunity exists to test whether SAIA interventions shown to be effective in improving efficiency and coverage of HIV services can be effective when applied to the non-communicable disease services that leverage the same platform. We hypothesize that SAIA-hypertension (SAIA-HTN) will be effective as an adaptable, scalable model for broad implementation.

METHODS

We will deploy a hybrid type III cluster randomized trial to evaluate the impact of SAIA-HTN on hypertension management in eight intervention and eight control facilities in central Mozambique. Effectiveness outcomes include hypertension cascade flow measures (screening, diagnosis, management, control), as well as hypertension and HIV clinical outcomes among people living with HIV. Cost-effectiveness will be estimated as the incremental costs per additional patient passing through the hypertension cascade steps and the cost per additional disability-adjusted life year averted, from the payer perspective (Ministry of Health). SAIA-HTN implementation fidelity will be measured, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research will guide qualitative evaluation of the implementation process in high- and low-performing facilities to identify determinants of intervention success and failure, and define core and adaptable components of the SAIA-HTN intervention. The Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change scale will measure facility-level readiness for adopting SAIA-HTN.

DISCUSSION

SAIA packages user-friendly systems engineering tools to guide decision-making by front-line health workers to identify low-cost, contextually appropriate chronic care improvement strategies. By integrating SAIA into routine hypertension screening and management structures, this pragmatic trial is designed to test a model for national scale-up.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04088656 (registered 09/13/2019; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04088656).

Rationale and design of a nurse-led intervention to extend the HIV treatment cascade for cardiovascular disease prevention trial (EXTRA-CVD)

Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) are at increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In spite of this, uptake of evidence-based clinical interventions for ASCVD risk reduction in the HIV clinic setting is sub-optimal. METHODS: EXTRA-CVD is a 12-month randomized clinical effectiveness trial that will assess the efficacy of a multi-component nurse-led intervention in reducing ASCVD risk among PLHIV. Three hundred high ASCVD risk PLHIV across three sites will be randomized 1:1 to usual care with generic prevention education or the study intervention. The study intervention will consist of four evidence-based components: (1) nurse-led care coordination, (2) nurse-managed medication protocols and adherence support (3) home BP monitoring, and (4) electronic health records support tools. The primary outcome will be change in systolic blood pressure and secondary outcome will be change in non-HDL cholesterol over the course of the intervention. Tertiary outcomes will include change in the proportion of participants in the following extended cascade categories: (1) appropriately diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia (2) appropriately managed; (3) at treatment goal (systolic blood pressure <130 mm Hg and non-HDL cholesterol < National Lipid Association targets). CONCLUSIONS: The EXTRA-CVD trial will provide evidence appraising the potential impact of nurse-led interventions in reducing ASCVD risk among PLHIV, an essential extension of the HIV care continuum beyond HIV viral suppression.

HIV and Aging: Reconsidering the Approach to Management of Comorbidities

Health care for older adults with human immunodeficiency virus can be highly complex, resource intensive, and carry a high administrative burden. Data from aging longitudinal cohorts and feedback from the human immunodeficiency virus community suggest that the current model is not meeting the needs of these older adults. We introduce the 6 Ms approach, which acknowledges the multicomplexity of older adults with human immunodeficiency virus, simplifies geriatric principles for non-geriatrics-trained providers, and minimizes extensive training and specialized screening tests or tools. Implementing novel approaches to care requires support at local/national levels.

Impact of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Cholesterol Guidelines on Statin Eligibility Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Individuals

Background

Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) face elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. There are limited data regarding the application of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) cholesterol guidelines in HIV compared with non-HIV patients.

Methods

Human immunodeficiency virus-infected and demographically similar control patients were assessed for statin recommendation status by ACC/AHA and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Program III (ATPIII), indication for statin recommendation, actual statin prescription, and CVD event. Outcomes were atherosclerotic CVD for ACC/AHA and coronary heart disease for ATPIII.

Results

In a clinical care cohort of 1394 patients infected with HIV, 38.6% (538 of 1394) of patients were recommended for statin therapy by the ACC/AHA guidelines compared with 20.1% (280 of 1394) by the ATPIII guidelines. Of those recommended for statin therapy, actual statin prescription rates were 42.8% (230 of 538) for ACC/AHA and 66.4% (186 of 280) for ATPIII. Among patients infected with HIV with an incident CVD event during follow-up, statin therapy was recommended for 59.2% (42 of 71) of patients by ACC/AHA and 35.2% (25 of 71) by ATPIII, versus 71.6% (141 of 197) by ACC/AHA and 43.1% (85 of 197) by ATPIII in the control group.

Conclusions

In an HIV clinical care cohort, the ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines recommend a higher proportion of patients for statin therapy and identify an increased proportion of patients with a CVD event compared with ATPIII. However, 40% of patients with a CVD event would not have been recommended for statin therapy by ACC/AHA, compared with 29% for controls. This gap in identification of patients infected with HIV at high CVD risk underscores the need for HIV-specific cardiovascular prevention strategies.

Changes in cardiovascular risk and clinical outcomes in a HIV/AIDS cohort study over a 1-year period at a specialized clinic in Mexico

INTRODUCTION

The third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines recommends calculating the 10-year morbidity of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using risk calculators when treating high blood cholesterol in adults. We analyzed the changes in cardiovascular risk (CVR) among Mexican patients with HIV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This observational, prospective cohort study compared the CVR after 1 year of antiretroviral treatment among 460 HIV patients from a Mexican clinic. Changes using the ASCVD risk estimator and changes in clinical outcomes were analyzed. The results were categorized as low or high CVR using a cutoff of 7.5%.

RESULTS

The CVR initially had a median of 2.3% (interquartile range [IQR]: 1%-4.8%), which changed to 2.4% (IQR: 1.5%-5.5%) after 1 year (P=0.001). After CVR stratification, we found that 84.3% of the patients had a low CVR, and 18% in this subgroup had metabolic syndrome (MS). Moreover, 15.7% had high CVR, and 47% in this subgroup had MS. The 4.3% of patients had an increase in CVR from the low to high subgroup, and 2.6% had a decrease in CVR from the high to low subgroup. Out of all patients, 22.3% had MS.

CONCLUSION

More than 50% of the population had an increase in CVR after 1 year. Of these patients, 4.3% changed from the low to high CVR group. Although the guidelines proposed different time periods for performing CVR estimations, this study showed that such assessments offered valuable clinical data over a relatively short-term period.

The HIV patient profile in 2013 and 2003: Results from the Greek AMACS cohort

Combined Antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved life-expectancy of people living with HIV (PLHIV) but as they age, prevalence of chronic non-AIDS related comorbidities may increase. We study the evolution of HIV-disease markers and comorbidities’ prevalence in PLHIV in Greece. Two cross-sectional analyses (2003 and 2013) on data from the AMACS cohort were performed. Comparisons were based on population average models and were repeated for subjects under follow-up at both 2003 and 2013. 2,403 PLHIV were identified in 2003 and 4,910 in 2013 (1,730 contributing for both cross-sections). Individuals in 2013 were on average older, diagnosed/treated for HIV for longer, more likely to be on cART, virologically suppressed, and with higher CD4 counts. Chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia and hypertension prevalence increased over time. There was an increase in prescription of lipid-lowering treatment (3.5% in 2003 vs. 7.7% 2013, p<0.001). Among 220 and 879 individuals eligible for Framingham 10-year Event Risk calculation, the proportion of patients in the high-risk group (>20%) increased from 18.2% to 22.2% (p = 0.002). Increase in the prevalence of comorbidities was more pronounced in the subset of patients who were followed in both 2003 and 2013. The increased availability and uptake of cART led to significant improvements in the immuno-virological status of PLHIV in Greece, but they aged alongside an increase in prevalence of non-AIDS related comorbidities. These results highlight the need for appropriate monitoring, optimal cART selection and long-term management and prevention strategies for such comorbidities.

Anthropometric measures of central adiposity are highly concordant with predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in HIV patients

Background

Body fat redistribution and metabolic abnormalities found in HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) contribute to an atherogenic profile, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate adiposity measures/indexes and propose cutoffs associated with predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in HIV patients on HAART.

Design

To evaluate cardiovascular disease risk in this cross-sectional study, we conducted electrocardiogram exams and stress electrocardiography, measured the ankle brachial index and blood pressure arterial hypertension, conducted lipid biochemical tests, and measured blood glucose. We measured circumferences [waist (WC), hip, thigh, calf, neck, trunk] and skinfold thicknesses (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac), conducted bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and calculated indexes [body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-thigh ratio, waist-to-calf ratio, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), trunk-to-arm ratio, body mass index corrected for body fat mass, Body Adiposity Index, conicity index, body shape index, fat mass (percentage), and phase angle]. For evaluating the performance of all adiposity measures/indexes, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

Measures of central adiposity WC and WHtR showed the best performances-WC area under the curve (AUC) for men: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.89; P < 0.05); WC AUC for women: 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.91; P < 0.05); WHtR AUC for men: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.88; P < 0.05); and WHtR AUC for women: 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.91; P < 0.05). All adiposity measures/indexes presented different cutoffs from those proposed for the HIV seronegative population. The cutoffs for WC were 87.75 cm (sensitivity: 82.2%; specificity: 75.5%) for men and 90.5 cm (sensitivity: 84.0%; specificity: 73.0%) for women.

Conclusions

The measures/indexes of central adiposity presented excellent associations with predictors of cardiovascular disease risk, and the use of the cutoffs proposed in the present study aims to contribute to the early identification of increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases, enabling interventions. This trial was registered at the Brazilian clinical trials registry Registro brasileiro de ensaios clínicos (Rebec) as RBR-9rcxbq.

Epidemiology of ischemic heart disease in HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to summarize and synthesize recent data on the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in HIV-infected individuals.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies in the field demonstrate an increasing impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on morbidity and mortality in HIV relative to AIDS-related diagnoses. Studies continue to support an approximately 1.5 to two-fold increased risk of IHD conferred by HIV, with specific risk varying by sex and virologic/immunologic status. Risk factors include both traditional CVD risk factors and novel, HIV-specific factors including inflammation and immune activation. Specific antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs may increase CVD risk, yet the net effect of ART with viral suppression is beneficial with regard to CVD risk. Management of cardiovascular risk and prevention of CVD is complex, because current general population strategies target traditional CVD risk factors only. Extensive investigation is being directed at developing tailored CVD risk prediction algorithms and interventions to reduce CVD risk in HIV.

SUMMARY

Increased IHD risk is a significant clinical and public health challenge in HIV. The development and application of HIV-specific interventions to manage CVD risk factors and reduce CVD risk will improve the long-term health of this ageing population.

Are we successfully managing cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this study was to discuss the most recent research in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) with a focus on screening, primary and secondary prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

The cause of CVD in PLWHIV is complex and multifactorial and creates a demand for a multifaceted approach to screening and prevention. Current screening and management of CVD risk factors in PLWHIV is suboptimal, reasons for this are not clear and the data are still scarce both in the primary and secondary preventive setting. There are no optimal routine risk screening tools available to accurately detect early and subclinical disease; PLWHIV are undertreated with preventive drugs such as statins and aspirin and antihypertensives; there are still no programmes that have been shown significantly efficient over time with regards to improved smoking cessation, increased physical activity and optimal diet, and recent reports call for intensified focus on HIV-positive women as a particularly vulnerable subgroup.

SUMMARY

There is a need for further studies investigating barriers to optimal CVD risk factor management in PLWHIV and an increased focus of CVD prevention in HIV-positive women.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response after statin initiation among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus

BACKGROUND

Meta-analyses of general population studies report mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions of 30% to <50% with moderate-intensity and ≥50% with high-intensity statins. Persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) are at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet many have elevated LDL-C.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate LDL-C response after statin initiation among PLWH.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of PLWH initiating statins between 2009 and 2013 (N = 706). Patients were categorized into mutually exclusive groups in the following hierarchy: history of coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, prestatin LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL, 10-year predicted ASCVD risk ≥7.5%, and none of the above (ie, unknown statin indication). The primary outcome was a ≥30% reduction in LDL-C after statin initiation.

RESULTS

Among patients initiating statins, 5.8% had a history of CHD, 13.6% had diabetes, 6.2% had LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL, 35.4% had 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%, and 39.0% had an unknown statin indication. Among patients with a history of CHD, 31.7% achieved a ≥30% LDL-C reduction compared with 25.0%, 59.1%, and 33.9% among those with diabetes, LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL, and 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%, respectively. In multivariable adjusted analyses and compared to patients with an unknown statin indication, LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL was associated with a prevalence ratio for an LDL-C reduction ≥30% of 1.81 (95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.45), whereas no statistically significant association was present for history of CHD, diabetes, and 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%.

CONCLUSION

A low percentage of PLWH achieved the expected reductions in LDL-C after statin initiation, highlighting an unmet need for ASCVD risk reduction.

Evaluation of Statin Eligibility, Prescribing Practices, and Therapeutic Responses Using ATP III, ACC/AHA, and NLA Dyslipidemia Treatment Guidelines in a Large Urban Cohort of HIV-Infected Outpatients

Statin coverage has been examined among HIV-infected patients using Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, although not with newer National Lipid Association (NLA) guidelines. We investigated statin eligibility, prescribing practices, and therapeutic responses using these three guidelines. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected between 2011 and 2016 for HIV-infected outpatients enrolled in the DC Cohort, a multi-center, prospective, observational study in Washington, DC. This analysis included patients aged ≥21 years receiving primary care at their HIV clinic site with ≥1 cholesterol result available. Of 3312 patients (median age 52; 79% black), 52% were eligible for statins based on ≥1 guideline, including 45% (NLA), 40% (ACC/AHA), and 30% (ATP III). Using each guideline, 49% (NLA), 56% (ACC/AHA), and 73% (ATP III) of eligible patients were prescribed statins. Predictors of new prescriptions included older age (aHR = 1.16 [1.08-1.26]/5 years), body mass index ≥30 (aHR = 1.50 [1.07-2.11]), and diabetes (aHR = 1.35 [1.03-1.79]). Hepatitis C coinfection was inversely associated with statin prescriptions (aHR = 0.67 [0.45-1.00]). Among 216 patients with available cholesterol results pre-/post-prescription, 53% achieved their NLA cholesterol goal after 6 months. Hepatitis C coinfection was positively associated (aHR = 1.87 [1.06-3.32]), and depression (aHR = 0.56 [0.35-0.92]) and protease inhibitor use (aHR = 0.61 [0.40-0.93]) were inversely associated, with NLA goal achievement. Half of patients were eligible for statins based on current US guidelines, with the highest proportion eligible based on NLA guidelines, yet, fewer received prescriptions and achieved treatment goals. Greater compliance with recommended statin prescribing practices may reduce cardiovascular disease risk among HIV-infected individuals.

Mortality and Health Service Use Following Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Persons with HIV: A Population-Based Study

People with HIV have higher rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than HIV-negative individuals. We compared mortality risk and health service use following AMI among people with and without HIV between January 1, 2002, and March 31, 2015. We conducted a population-based study using Ontario's administrative databases. Our primary outcomes were risk of inpatient death and death at 30 days following hospital discharge. In secondary analyses, we compared use of revascularization procedures within 90 days of AMI, as well as readmission or emergency department visits for heart disease and cardiology follow-up within 90 days of discharge. We studied 259,475 AMI patients, of whom 345 (0.13%) were people with HIV. AMI patients with HIV were younger than HIV-negative patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 54.4 ± 10.5 years vs. 69.3 ± 14.3 years). Following multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios for inpatient death and death at 30 days following discharge were 1.04 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.64-1.56] and 2.42 (95% CI 1.00-4.92), respectively. In secondary analyses, no differences were observed in receipt of revascularization procedures (hazard ratio (HR) 0.98; 95% CI 0.85-1.12), readmission or emergency department visit for heart disease (HR 1.18; 95% CI 0.85-1.62), or cardiology follow-up (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.76-1.01). People with HIV experience AMI at younger ages and may be at higher risk of death in the 30 days following hospital discharge, underscoring the importance of targeting modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors in these patients.

Suboptimal primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in HIV-positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy

Background We aimed to identify the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, and investigate preventive cardiovascular medication use and achievement of targets as per Dutch cardiovascular risk management guidelines among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative individuals. Design The design was a cross-sectional analysis within an ongoing cohort study. Methods Data on medication use and cardiovascular disease prevalence were available for 528 HIV-positive and 521 HIV-negative participants. We identified cardiovascular risk factors and applied cardiovascular risk management guidelines, mainly focusing on individuals eligible for (a) primary prevention because of high a priori cardiovascular risk, or for (b) secondary prevention. Results One hundred and three (20%) HIV-positive and 77 (15%) HIV-negative participants were classified as having high cardiovascular risk; 53 (10%) HIV-positive and 27 (5%) HIV-negative participants were eligible for secondary prevention. Of HIV-positive individuals 57% at high cardiovascular risk and 42% of HIV-positive individuals eligible for secondary prevention had systolic blood pressures above guideline-recommended thresholds. Cholesterol levels were above guideline-recommended thresholds in 81% of HIV-positive individuals at high cardiovascular risk and 57% of HIV-positive individuals eligible for secondary prevention. No statistically significant differences were observed between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants regarding achievement of targets, except for glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin ≤ 53 mmol/mol) among individuals using diabetes medication (90% vs 50%, p = 0.017) and antiplatelet/anticoagulant use for secondary prevention (85% vs 63%, p = 0.045), which were both superior among HIV-positive participants. Conclusions Cardiovascular risk management is suboptimal in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals and should be improved.

Cholesterol Screening and Statin Prescription is Low Among HIV-Infected Patients on Protease-Inhibitor Regimens in Botswana

Background:

Little is known about the use of statin for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction among HIV-infected patients on protease inhibitors (PI`s) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Objective:

Cholesterol screening and statin use were retrospectively assessed among HIV-infected participants on PI`s between 2008 and 2012 at a large urban HIV clinic in Botswana.

Methods:

Proportion of participants screened per year was calculated and statin indication was assessed using atherosclerosis CVD (ASCVD) and Framingham risk (FRS) scores as of the year 2012 guidelines.

Results:

Cholesterol screening ranged between 19% and 30% per year (2008-2011) but increased to 80% after study enrollment. The rate of hypercholesterolemia (> 5.0 mmol/L) was 31% in 2012. Fewer than 1% participants were on statin therapy but 14.3% and 9.4% had statins indicated by ASCVD and FRS respectively.

Conclusion:

The high proportion of participants indicated for, but not prescribed statins highlights a substantial gap in the care to reduce CVD risk among these patients.

Global prevalence of hypertension among people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to estimate, through meta-analysis, the global prevalence of hypertension among people living with HIV (PLWH). A total of 49 studies published during 2011-2016 with 63,554 participants were included in analysis. These studies were conducted in America (25), Europe (13), Africa (10), and Asia (1) with data collected during 1996-2014. Prevalence of hypertension and confidence interval was estimated and stratified by participants' age, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and calendar-years using random effects modeling. The quality assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool was high for all included studies. The estimated prevalence (95% confidence interval) of hypertension was 25.2% (21.2%, 29.6%) for the overall sample, 34.7% (27.4%, 42.8%) for ART-experienced, and 12.7% (7.4%, 20.8%) for ART-naïve participants. The estimated prevalence was found increased with age and in studies conducted after 2010. Hypertension among PLWH shows an increasing trend and is associated with receiving ART and older age. Findings of this study provide data for decision makers to incorporate blood pressure assessment in primary prevention and for researchers to further investigate factors and mechanisms related to hypertension among PLWH.

High burden of metabolic comorbidities in a citywide cohort of HIV outpatients: evolving health care needs of people aging with HIV in Washington, DC

OBJECTIVES

With the increasing impact of cardiovascular disease among populations aging with HIV, contemporary prevalence estimates for predisposing metabolic comorbidities will be important for guiding the provision of relevant lifestyle and pharmacological interventions. We estimated the citywide prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and obesity; examined differences by demographic subgroups; and assessed clinical correlates.

METHODS

Utilizing an electronic medical record (EMR) database from the DC Cohort study - a multicentre prospective cohort study of HIV-infected outpatients - we assessed the period prevalence of metabolic comorbidities between 2011 and 2015 using composite definitions that incorporated diagnoses, pharmacy records, and clinical/laboratory results.

RESULTS

Of 7018 adult patients (median age 50 years; 77% black), 50% [95% confidence interval (CI) 49-51] had hypertension, 13% (95% CI: 12-14) had diabetes, 48% (95% CI: 47-49) had dyslipidaemia, and 35% (95% CI: 34-36) had obesity. Hypertension was more prevalent among black patients, diabetes and obesity were more prevalent among female and black patients, dyslipidaemia was more prevalent among male and white patients, and comorbidities were more prevalent among older patients (all P < 0.001). For many patients, evidence of treatment for these comorbidities was not available in the EMR. Longer time since HIV diagnosis, greater duration of antiretroviral treatment, and having controlled immunovirological parameters were associated with metabolic comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the pervasive burden of metabolic comorbidities among HIV-infected persons, serve as the basis for future analyses characterizing their impact on subsequent adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and highlight the need for an increased focus on the prevention and control of comorbid complications in this population.

Non-Communicable Disease Preventive Screening by HIV Care Model

Importance

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic has evolved, with an increasing non-communicable disease (NCD) burden emerging and need for long-term management, yet there are limited data to help delineate the optimal care model to screen for NCDs for this patient population.

Objective

The primary aim was to compare rates of NCD preventive screening in persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) by type of HIV care model, focusing on metabolic/cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer screening. We hypothesized that primary care models that included generalists would have higher preventive screening rates.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting

Partners HealthCare System (PHS) encompassing Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and affiliated community health centers.

Participants

PLWHA age >18 engaged in active primary care at PHS.

Exposure

HIV care model categorized as infectious disease (ID) providers only, generalist providers only, or ID plus generalist providers.

Main Outcome(s) and Measures(s)

Odds of screening for metabolic/CVD outcomes including hypertension (HTN), obesity, hyperlipidemia (HL), and diabetes (DM) and cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC), cervical cancer, and breast cancer.

Results

In a cohort of 1565 PLWHA, distribution by HIV care model was 875 ID (56%), 90 generalists (6%), and 600 ID plus generalists (38%). Patients in the generalist group had lower odds of viral suppression but similar CD4 counts and ART exposure as compared with ID and ID plus generalist groups. In analyses adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariates and clustering within provider, there were no significant differences in metabolic/CVD or cancer screening rates among the three HIV care models.

Conclusions

There were no notable differences in metabolic/CVD or cancer screening rates by HIV care model after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors. These findings suggest that HIV patients receive similar preventive health care for NCDs independent of HIV care model.

Statin therapy and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction in HIV-infected individuals after acute coronary syndrome: Results from the PACS-HIV lipids substudy

Knowledge about lipid interventions in secondary prevention in HIV-infected individuals is limited; studies are sparse.

METHODS

A prospective observational multicenter study enrolled 282 patients on statin 1 month after first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (95 HIV-infected individuals, 187 HIV-uninfected). Data on fasting lipids (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], non-HDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C ratio) were collected over 3 years. The evolution of lipid concentrations was analyzed using mixed-effects models. Achievement of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III lipid goals and prescribed statin intensity was assessed.

RESULTS

Mean age of patients was 49.0 years, and 94% were men. Baseline lipids were similar in the 2 groups. Six months after first ACS, less low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction was observed in the HIV-infected GROUP (adjusted mean change -10.13; 95% CI -20.63 to 0.37; P=.06) than in the HIV-uninfected group (Adjusted mean change -38.51; 95% CI -46.00 to -31.04; P<.0001) Similar trends were observed for TC and non-HDL-C. After ACS, initial statin prescription for HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected individuals was more frequently a moderate-intensity statin (66% vs 45%) and less frequently a high-intensity statin (15% vs 45%). Over 3 years of follow-up, the proportion of HIV-infected patients receiving high-intensity statin remained persistently lower than the proportion observed in the HIV-uninfected group.

CONCLUSIONS

In this observational study, HIV-infected individuals after first ACS exhibited worse lipid profiles than controls particularly during the first 6 months while receiving less potent statins. Appropriate statin intensity should be prescribed in HIV-infected individuals with awareness of potential drug-drug interactions.

Mechanisms Influencing Circadian Blood Pressure Patterns Among Individuals with HIV

HIV+ individuals have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the mechanisms behind this association are poorly understood. While hypertension is a well-established CVD risk factor, clinic-based blood pressure (BP) assessment by itself cannot identify several important BP patterns, including white coat hypertension, masked hypertension, nighttime hypertension, and nighttime BP dipping. These BP patterns can be identified over a 24-h period by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). In this review, we provide an overview of the potential value of conducting ABPM in HIV+ individuals. ABPM phenotypes associated with increased CVD risk include masked hypertension (i.e., elevated out-of-clinic BP despite non-elevated clinic BP), nighttime hypertension, and a non-dipping BP pattern (i.e., a drop in BP of <10 % from daytime to nighttime). These adverse ABPM phenotypes may be highly relevant in the setting of HIV infection, given that increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers, high psychosocial burden, high prevalence of sleep disturbance, and autonomic dysfunction have been commonly reported in HIV+ persons. Additionally, although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with lower AIDS-related morbidity and CVD risk, the mitochondrial toxicity, oxidative stress, lipodystrophy, and insulin resistance associated with long-term ART use potentially lead to adverse ABPM phenotypes. Existing data on ABPM phenotypes in the setting of HIV are limited, but suggest an increased prevalence of a non-dipping BP pattern. In conclusion, identifying ABPM phenotypes may provide crucial information regarding the mechanisms underlying the excess CVD risk in HIV+ individuals.

Coronary artery disease risk reduction in HIV-infected persons: a comparative analysis

Despite an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), few data are available on primary prevention of CAD in this population. In this retrospective cohort study, HIV-infected patients treated in an academic medical center HIV Specialty Clinic between 1996 and 2010 were matched by age, gender, and ethnicity to a cohort of presumed uninfected persons followed in an academic medical center Internal Medicine primary care clinic. We compared CAD primary prevention care practices between the two clinics, including use of aspirin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins"), and anti-hypertensive drugs. CAD risk between the two groups was assessed with 10-year Framingham CAD risk scores. In the comparative analysis, 890 HIV-infected persons were compared to 807 controls. Ten-year Framingham CAD Risk Scores were similar in the two groups (median, 3; interquartile range [IQR], 0-5). After adjusting for relevant risk factors, HIV-infected persons were less likely to be prescribed aspirin (odds ratio [OR] 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.71), statins (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53-0.92), and anti-hypertensive drugs (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50-0.79) than persons in the control group. In summary, when compared to demographically similar uninfected persons, HIV-infected persons treated in an HIV specialty clinic were less likely to be prescribed medications appropriate for CAD risk reduction. Improving primary preventative CAD care in HIV specialty clinic populations is an important step toward diminishing risk of heart disease in HIV-infected persons.

Lipid lowering efficacy and safety of Ezetimibe combined with rosuvastatin compared with titrating rosuvastatin monotherapy in HIV-positive patients

Background

HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy frequently develop dyslipidemias and, despite therapy with potent lipid-lowering agents, a high percentage does not achieve guideline recommended lipid targets. In this study, we examined the efficacy of combination treatment with a statin and the cholesterol transport blocker, ezetimibe, vs. monotherapy with a statin in HIV-infected patients not achieving lipid goals.

Methods

This was a 12-week, prospective, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Patients were eligible if they had an apolipoprotein B (apoB) >0.80 g/L despite therapy with rosuvastatin 10 mg daily for a minimum of 12 weeks. Patients were randomized to take ezetimibe 10 mg/rosuvastatin 10 mg or rosuvastatin 20 mg for 12 weeks. Percentage and absolute change in apoB (primary outcome), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, apoliporpotein A1 (apoA1), apoB/apoA1, TC/HDL-C, atherogenic index of plasma (API), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared. Changes in safety parameters (such as AST, ALT, CK) and clinical symptoms were also assessed.

Results

Forty-three patients (23 on ezetimibe 10 mg/rosuvastatin 10 mg and 20 on rosuvastatin 20 mg) completed the trial. Baseline characteristics did not differ between the groups. Significant improvements in apoB were seen with both ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin (mean of -0.17 g/L, p < 0.001) and rosuvastatin 20 mg (mean of -0.13 g/L, p = 0.03) treatment groups, but did not differ between groups (p = 0.53). Significant between-group differences were observed for mean TC (-1.01 mmol/L vs. -0.50 mmol/L, p = 0.03), TG (-0.62 mmol/L vs -0.17 mmol/L, p = 0.03), and non-HDL-C (-0.97 mmol/L vs. -0.53 mmol/L, p = 0.03) all in favour of the ezetimibe plus rosuvastatin group. Two patients, both in the rosuvastatin 20 mg group, experienced mild myalgias; neither discontinued the study.

Conclusions

The addition of ezetimibe to rosuvastatin appears to be safe in patients with HIV. Furthermore, the combination of ezetimibe and rosuvastatin improved TG, AIP and non-HDL cholesterol levels more than a dose increase in rosuvastatin in patients with HIV-associated dyslipidemia.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels and Statin Treatment by HIV Status Among Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study Men

Treating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including dyslipidemia, is important in HIV care. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) target achievement is a readily available benchmark for dyslipidemia control, although use of this target is not uniformly endorsed by professional societies. We examined whether HIV serostatus is associated with not achieving LDL-c target. Among Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) participants completing visit 56 (10/1/2011-3/31/2012), we categorized each man as on or off statin therapy and used NCEP ATP III guidelines to determine if each man was at LDL-c target or not at target. We compared proportions of men not at target and determined predictors using multivariate logistic regression. Sixty of 543 (11.1%) HIV-infected men and 87 of 585 (14.9%) HIV-uninfected men not receiving statin therapy were not at target (p=0.07), while 31 of 230 (13.5%) HIV-infected and 29 of 204 (14.2%) HIV-uninfected men receiving statin therapy were not at target (p=0.82). Factors associated with not being at target (among men not receiving statin therapy) included current smoking (OR=2.31, 95% CI 1.31, 4.06) and a diagnosis of hypertension (OR=4.69, 95% CI 2.68, 8.21). Factors associated with not being at target (among men receiving statin therapy) included current smoking (OR=2.72, 95% CI 1.30, 5.67) and diabetes (OR=5.31, 95% CI 2.47, 11.42). HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men receiving statin therapy demonstrated similar nonachievement of LDL-c targets. Comorbidities (e.g., diabetes) lowered targets and may explain why goals were less likely to be met.

Body mass index and the risk of incident noncommunicable diseases after starting antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVES

Obesity and HIV infection are associated with an increased incidence of noninfectious comorbid medical conditions, but the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the development of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) has not been well characterized.

METHODS

A cohort study of adults initiating ART between 1998 and 2010 at an academic centre with systematic laboratory and clinical data collection, including AIDS and NCD diagnoses, was carried out. The relationship between BMI at ART initiation and the risk of incident cardiovascular, hepatic, renal or oncological NCDs was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. BMI was fitted using restricted cubic splines and models adjusted for age, sex, race, CD4 count, protease inhibitor use, year of initiation, and prior AIDS-defining illness.

RESULTS

Among 1089 patients in the analysis cohort, 54% had normal BMI, 28% were overweight, and 18% were obese. Baseline BMI was associated with developing an incident NCD (P<0.01), but the relationship was nonlinear. Compared with a BMI of 25 kg/m(2) , a BMI of 30 kg/m(2) conferred a lower risk of an incident NCD diagnosis [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40, 0.87]. This protective effect was attenuated at a BMI of 35 kg/m(2) (AHR 0.78; 95% CI 0.49, 1.23). Results were similar in sensitivity analyses incorporating tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, statin and antihypertensive exposure, and virological suppression.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight individuals starting ART have a lower risk of developing NCDs compared with normal BMI individuals, which may reflect a biological effect of adipose tissue or differences in patient or provider behaviours.

Aspirin Use for Primary and Secondary Prevention in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Patients

Aspirin use is lower among HIV-infected patients compared to HIV-uninfected patients with a pronounced difference among those patients at highest cardiovascular risk. Aspirin use is also lower among HIV-infected patients when used for secondary prevention.

Background

 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). The use of aspirin for primary and secondary MI prevention in HIV infection has not been extensively studied.

Methods

 We performed a cross-sectional study of 4037 patients infected with HIV and 36 338 demographics-matched control patients in the Partners HealthCare System HIV cohort. We developed an algorithm to ascertain rates of nonepisodic acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use using medication and electronic health record free text data. We assessed rates of ASA use among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected (negative) patients with and without coronary heart disease (CHD).

Results

 Rates of ASA use were lower among HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected patients (12.4% vs 15.3%, P < .001), with a relatively greater difference among patients with ≥2 CHD risk factors (22.1% vs 42.4%, P < .001). This finding was present among men and among patients in the 30–39 and 40–49 age groups. Among patients with prevalent CHD using ASA for secondary prevention, rates of ASA use were also lower among HIV-infected patients compared with HIV-uninfected patients (51.6% vs 65.4%, P < .001).

Conclusions

 Rates of ASA use were lower among HIV-infected patients compared with controls, with a greater relative difference among those with elevated CHD risk and those with known CHD. Further studies are needed to investigate the optimal strategies for ASA use among patients infected with HIV.

Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk in HIV

HIV infection and its treatment have been associated with adipose tissue changes and disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. The proportion of HIV-infected adults over the age of 50 is also growing placing HIV-infected adults at particular risk for metabolic perturbations and cardiovascular disease. The metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected adults has been increasingly studied but whether HIV is associated with greater risk remains unclear, likely because of the interplay of host, viral and antiretroviral factors that are associated with the components of the metabolic syndrome. The relationship between HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) risk has also been debated. While the Framingham Risk Score is a well-accepted measure of 10-year cardiovascular risk in the general population, it may not accurately predict risk in the HIV setting due to HIV-related factors such as inflammation that are not accounted for. We summarize the recent literature on metabolic syndrome, DM, and cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected adults.

Effects of recent Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program policy changes on diabetes and hyperlipidemia control in people living with HIV

Objectives:

To describe the impacts of Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program’s elimination of diabetes and hyperlipidemia medication on disease outcomes in people living with HIV.

Methods:

Data were collected on two groups of people living with HIV who were prescribed medications for diabetes and/or hyperlipidemia; one group received medications from AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and the other group received medications from another source. Data were collected for 13 months before and after the policy change. Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and HIV control were compared using standard laboratory measures.

Results:

During the pre-policy-change time period, non-ADAP patients had better diabetes control than ADAP patients, but with multivariate analysis, ADAP status was no longer a statistically significant predictor. Otherwise, no significant differences between groups were identified.

Discussion:

ADAP patients had worse diabetes control compared to the non-ADAP group before the policy change. It is possible that this is due to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program population’s poor access to non-HIV primary care, including care for diabetes. It is reassuring that, even during a time of flux in AIDS Drug Assistance Program resources, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program patients’ co-morbid and HIV outcomes were not negatively impacted.

Metabolic disease in HIV infection

The treatment of metabolic disease is becoming an increasingly important component of the long-term management of patients with well controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Metabolic diseases probably develop at the intersection of traditional risk factors (such as obesity, tobacco use, and genetic predisposition) and HIV-specific and ART-specific contributors (including chronic inflammation and immune activation). This Review discusses present knowledge on adipose tissue dysfunction, insulin-glucose homoeostasis, lipid disturbances, and cardiovascular disease risk in people with HIV on ART. Although new antiretroviral drugs are believed to induce fewer short-term metabolic perturbations than do older drugs, the long-term effects of these drugs are not fully understood. Additionally, patients remain at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other metabolic comorbidities. Research and treatment should focus on selection of ART that is both virologically effective and has minimum metabolic effects, minimisation of traditional risk factors for metabolic disease, and development of novel therapies to treat metabolic disease in patients with HIV, including use of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs.

Metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected individuals: underlying mechanisms and epidemiological aspects

The success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has determined a dramatic decline in AIDS- and immunodeficiency-related causes of death in the HIV-infected population. As life-expectancy increases, such individuals have become gradually exposed not only to the effects of aging itself, but also to the influence of environmental risk factors, which are known to act in the general population. These features can lead to obesity, diabetes mellitus and ultimately cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolic complications and abnormal fat distribution were frequently observed after a few years of antiretroviral therapy and, as the array of antiretroviral drugs became broader, long term metabolic alterations are becoming far more common worldwide. Nevertheless, the risk of not being on HAART is overwhelmingly greater than the metabolic adverse events in terms of morbidity and mortality events. HIV/HAART-induced metabolic unbalances overlap in some extent the components of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its high rates in the HIV population place infected individuals in an elevated CVD risk category. MetS can explain at least in part the emergence of CVD as the major morbidity and mortality conditions in the HIV population. In this review we convey information on the underlying aspects of MetS during HIV infection, highlighting some physiopathological and epidemiological features of this comorbidity along with the role played by HIV itself and the synergy action of some antiretroviral drugs. Considerations on MetS management in the HIV population are also depicted.

Cardiovascular disease and HIV infection

The emergence of chronic disease complications in controlled HIV disease has changed the landscape of HIV clinical care. HIV infection confers an increased cardiovascular disease risk, which is thought to be due to a complex interplay of mechanistic factors. While traditional cardiovascular risk factors likely play a role, recent evidence suggests that HIV-associated inflammation and immune activation are important mediators of cardiovascular risk. It is unclear whether established preventative interventions for the general population are applicable to HIV-infected patients, and the need to translate mechanistic knowledge into HIV-specific clinical interventions represents an important priority. Developing strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals calls for a multidisciplinary approach and represents an opportunity to exert a major public health impact in an at-risk population.