Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment Tools in HIV-Infected Patients - Are They Adequate?

Abstract

Andrew Hickey and Shashwatee Bagchi

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among HIVinfected patients with seropositive patients developing CVD at higher rates than seronegative patients. Therefore, it is critical to have inexpensive, non-invasive assessment tools for CVD risk assessment in HIV-infected patients. Nearly all CVD risk assessment tools were derived from the general population, and their ability to predict CVD in the HIV population has been variable. In order to more accurately predict CVD risk in HIV-infected patients, a new CVD risk assessment tool derived from the HIV population that accounted for factors specific to HIV infection, disease course, and/or sequelae of treatment with antiretroviral therapy is needed. An improved CVD risk assessment tool for HIVinfected patients will help determine which patients would most benefit from primary prevention strategies.