HIV-Positive Patients at Elevated Risk for Ischemic Stroke

The relative risk was greatest among women, patients younger than 50, and those with poor virologic control.

Previous studies have documented an increased risk for cardiovascular disease among HIV-positive patients, but the data on stroke risk have not been as clear. To address this gap, researchers evaluated the incidence of ischemic stroke among 4300 HIV-positive patients who were seen at one of two large Boston hospitals between 2005 and 2007 and a matched cohort of 32,000 HIV-negative patients seen at the same hospitals. The HIV-positive cohort was 31% women and 21% black; mean age was 42, and 73% of the patients had viral loads ≤400 copies/mL. The mean nadir CD4 count was 271 cells/mm³, and the mean CD4 count at the time of analysis was 473 cells/mm³.

Compared with the control population, the HIV-positive cohort had a significantly higher prev…

Reviewing Author

Carlos del Rio, MD

HIV-Positive Patients at Elevated Risk for Ischemic Stroke

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Reviewing Author