Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in People with HIV: A Consequence of Suboptimal Virologic Control

While PWH with adequate virologic control were not at excess risk for AAA, those with insufficient virologic control demonstrated increased risk for AAA; this association was not seen in never-smokers.

In people with HIV (PWH), longer lifespans have brought excess risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that may be a function of longstanding systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and immune cell activation driven by traditional CVD risk factors as well as ongoing HIV replication. Filipkowski et al. analyzed observational data from the longitudinal Veterans Aging Cohort Study by matching PWH to those without HIV and calculating rates of AAA based on HIV infection as stratified by CD4 count and HIV viral load.

The cohort of 143,001 veterans (almost 50% Black) included 43,766 PWH (mean age, 49.6) and 99,235 without HIV (mean age, 50.6). During a median 8.7 years' follow-up, unadjusted as well as age- and sex-adjusted incident rates of …

Reviewing Author

George Sakoulas, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParatek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.; AbbVie; Shionogi

Speaker’s BureauAllergan/AbbVie; Paratek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Open Forum Infectious Diseases