Difference in Aortic Stiffness Between Treated Middle-Aged HIV Type 1-Infected and Uninfected Individuals Largely Explained by Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors, With an Additional Contribution of Prior Advanced Immunodeficiency.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Patients with HIV, even with suppressed viremia on combination antiretroviral therapy, are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The underlying pathophysiology remains to be clarified. Aortic stiffness, known to be associated with cardiovascular disease in the general population, was investigated in a cohort of HIV type 1 (HIV 1)-infected and similar but uninfected individuals.

METHODS:

Aortic stiffness was assessed by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) with an Arteriograph. Five hundred seven HIV-uninfected and 566 HIV 1-infected individuals, predominantly with suppressed viremia on combination antiretroviral therapy, aged ≥45 years, participating in the ongoing AGEhIV Cohort Study were included in the analysis. Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate whether HIV was independently associated with aortic stiffness, adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS:

Study groups were comparable in demographics; smoking and hypertension were more prevalent in HIV-infected participants. PWV was higher in the HIV-infected group (7.9 vs. 7.7 m/s, P = 0.004). After adjustment for mean arterial pressure, age, gender, and smoking, HIV status was not significantly associated with aortic stiffness. In HIV-infected participants, having a nadir CD4 T-cell count ≤100 cells per cubic millimeter was independently associated with a higher PWV.

CONCLUSIONS:

The increased aortic stiffness in HIV-infected participants was largely explained by a higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, particularly smoking. Although HIV itself was not independently associated with higher aortic stiffness, a prior greater degree of immunodeficiency was. This suggests a detrimental effect of immunodeficiency on the aortic wall, possibly mediated by inflammation.

• Authors: Katherine W Kooij, Judith Schouten, Ferdinand W N M Wit, Marc van der Valk, Neeltje A Kootstra, Ineke G Stolte, Jan T M van der Meer, Maria Prins, Diederick E Grobbee, Bert-Jan H van den Born, Peter Reiss
• Journal: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr) Vol. 73 Issue 1 Pg. 55-62 (09 01 2016) ISSN: 1944-7884 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27513572 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aorta (physiopathology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• HIV Infections (immunology, physiopathology)
• HIV-1
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors
• Vascular Stiffness (physiology)