aidsmap news story
Women living with HIV have almost twice the risk (a 93% increased risk) of cardiovascular disease compared to women without HIV, while men with HIV have a 44% increased risk compared to those without HIV, a study recently in the journal AIDS has found.
The study matched 4,803 people living with HIV with a control population of 24,276 people who shared similar demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race/ethnicity) and similar cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g. socioeconomic status, BMI and smoking status), but who did not have HIV.
The researchers investigated whether HIV control affected these differences. HIV control was measured by whether people had a suppressed viral load and normal CD4 count. Researchers looked at data from participants living in the United States who had opted to be enrolled in population research. Data was reviewed over a decade, with the rate of cardiovascular disease, viral suppression, and immune status (CD4 count) measured and statistically examined for significant differences. Cardiovascular disease was defined as a composite of coronary artery disease or haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke.
Read the full news story here.