BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the incidence and dynamic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among people living with HIV (PLWH).

METHODS

In this population-based statewide cohort study, we utilized integrated electronic health records data to identify adult (age ≥ 18) who were diagnosed with HIV between 2006 and 2019 and were CVD event-free at the HIV diagnosis in South Carolina. The associations of HIV-related factors and traditional risk factors with the CVD incidence were investigated during the overall study period, and by different follow-up periods (i.e., 0-5yrs, 6-10yrs 11-15yrs) using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Among 9,082 eligible participants, the incidence of CVD was 18.64 cases per 1000 person-years. Overall, conventional risk factors, such as tobacco use, hypertension, obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), were persistently associated with the outcome across all three groups. While HIV-related factors, such as recent CD4 count (e.g., > 350 vs. <200 cells/mm: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] range: 0.18-0.25), and percent of years in retention (e.g., 31-75% vs. 0-30%: aOR range: 0.24-0.57) were associated with lower odds of CVD incidence regardless of different follow up periods. The impact of the percent of days with viral suppression gradually diminished as the follow-up period increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintaining an optimal viral suppression might prevent CVD incidence in the short term, whereas restoring immune recovery may be beneficial for reducing CVD risk regardless of the duration of HIV diagnosis. Our findings suggest the necessity of conducting more targeted interventions during different periods of HIV infection.