HIV Independently Associated with Heart Failure Risk

Observational data suggest that heightened vigilance and aggressive risk-factor management are warranted to prevent HF in HIV-infected individuals.

Accumulating evidence suggests that HIV infection, particularly when untreated, increases the risk for cardiovascular events. However, the relationship between HIV and heart failure (HF) remains relatively unexplored. These investigators assessed the association between HIV infection and HF in 8846 male U.S. veterans (median age, 48; about 40% black) without existing cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline.

A total of 28.2% of participants were HIV infected. Compared with uninfected individuals, those with HIV were significantly more likely to smoke (55.0% vs. 45.3%), to have hepatitis C virus infection (30.5% vs. 11.4%), and to use cocaine (21.9% vs. 15.7%); and were significantly less likely to have diabetes (16.7% vs. 24.8%) or hyper…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

HIV Independently Associated with Heart Failure Risk

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Reviewing Author