title: Are HIV patients undertreated? Cardiovascular risk factors in HIV: results of the HIV-HEART study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiretroviral therapy improved the survival of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. With increased life expectancy, HIV-infected patients increasingly are experiencing comorbidities, most notably cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) and coronary heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study utilized a prospective, cross-sectional multicentre long-term design.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 803 patients (82% male; mean age 44.2 ± 10.3 years) we evaluated the prevalence of CRFs and 10-year risk of CHD using the Framingham risk model. The presence of a risk factor was determined based on the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP ATP III), the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC7), and the German Society of Cardiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common CRFs were smoking (51.2%), high triglycerides (39.0%), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (27.5 %) and high blood pressure (21.4%). In total, 60.3%, 21.6%, and 18.1% of patients were categorized as being at low (<10%), moderate (10-20%), and high (>20%) 10-year risk for CHD, respectively. In patients with hypertension, at least one antihypertensive drug was given in 91/163 (55.8%) patients. The percentage of patients on treatment with diabetes mellitus was 23/41 (56.1%). Anti-platelet therapy was prescribed to 42/102 (41.2%) patients with known CHD or CHD equivalent. In patients of moderate or high CHD risk there were more than 50% and 30% for LDL cholesterol and more than 60% and 40% for total cholesterol untreated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CRFs remains high in an HIV-infected population. CRF management of HIV-infected patients deserves further improvement.
authors: Department of Cardiology, West-German Heart Center, University of Essen Medical School, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, Germany. nico.reinsch@uk-essen.de
authors: Nico
authors: N
authors: Reinsch
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Neuhaus
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Esser
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Potthoff
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Hower
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Mostardt
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Neumann
authors: Norbert H
authors: NH
authors: Brockmeyer
authors: Götz
authors: G
authors: Gelbrich
authors: Raimund
authors: R
authors: Erbel
authors: Till
authors: T
authors: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol