Researchers Discovered That HIV Infection And Heart Disease Are Linked

Sep, 2022 - By WMR

According to studies, HIV infection can lead to heart artery damage. These analyses, however, showed that the relationship's robustness varied widely.

HIV infection and cardiac muscle or artery damage were compared by experts from The School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine. The report was released in JAMA on September 20, 2022. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the majority of the burden of HIV globally. Furthermore, the majority of the study subjects were older men, despite the fact that younger women make up a large portion of the HIV population worldwide.

Throughout contrast to AIDS, people with HIV are substantially more likely to die from heart disease, which is the main killer in this population. Although it is unclear whether HIV directly damages the heart muscle or the arteries that nourish that muscle, people with HIV are more likely to develop heart disease. To better understand the potential effects of HIV infection on the heart, researchers gathered all the studies that made use of cutting-edge imaging techniques.

Furthermore, the study discovered that slightly over a third of the studies indicated a connection between HIV infection and heart artery problems. However, these studies showed a lot of variation in the strength of the relationship. A correlation between HIV infection and cardiac muscle disease was found in about half of the investigations, albeit there was some heterogeneity in the degree of this association.

Furthermore, the research emphasizes the urgent need for studies to be carried out in low-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the HIV epidemic is highest.