NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Infection by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, might increase the risk of heart failure even in patients who have heart disease history step, a US study said.
And as of the HIV virus replicates, the risk increases, added to the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Health care providers traditionally believe HIV and its treatment increases the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease," said the senior author Adreel Butt, at the school of the University of Pittsburgh, medicine in Pennsylvania.
"Surprising conclusions of our study was prior association of HIV with heart failure in the absence of coronary artery disease".
The study involved nearly 8 500 adults, with a median age of 48 in two HIV infected subjects and controls.
The HIV group was most probably also infected by the virus of hepatitis C, 31% to 11% and abuse of cocaine - 22 to 16 per cent.
They were also more likely to be smokers, but less likely to have hypertension or diabetes.
In a tracking median of 7.3 years, 286 people developed heart failure. Rate of failure heart per 1,000 person-years, adjusted by age as well as of race and ethnicity, were 7.12 for HIV patients and 4.82 for controls.
After taking account of traditional risk factors, the ratio of risk for heart failure with HIV was 1.81.
In addition, continuous replication of the virus has led to a significantly higher risk of heart failure.
"However, if the replication of HIV is well controlled, then the risk of heart failure is closer to that observed in non-HIV people," Butt said.
The exact mechanism by which HIV infection is linked to heart failure remains uncertain, but possible explanations include the direct effects of HIV infection, antiretroviral treatment leads to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and nutritional deficiencies.
"Our results indicate that HIV is played an important and independent role" Butt and his colleagues wrote.
The message for HIV care providers is clear, though.
"Be on the lookout for signs of heart failure in people infected with HIV, even if there is no history of previous coronary heart disease," Butt told Reuters Health.
"Controlling although HIV can reduce the risk of a heart attack.".
No comments:
Post a Comment