Burden of subclinical heart and lung disease detected on thoracic CT scans of HIV patients on HAART.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to determine the prevalence of lung and heart abnormalities on thoracic CT scans in HIV-infected patients who were treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART).


METHODS
Thoracic CT scans of 903 patients infected with HIV (mean age 48±7 yrs, 29% females) were reviewed by three radiologists by consensus. Patients were phenotyped according to smoking status, pack years and years since cessation for ex-smokers. Individuals known to have active lung or heart disease at the time of CT scanning were excluded. Multimorbidity lung and heart disease (MLHD) was defined by the presence of >2 lung or heart abnormalities on the CT scan.


RESULTS
Prevalence of lung abnormalities were: 326 patients (36.1%) with emphysema, 271 (30.0%) with bronchiolitis, 44 (4.9%) with non-calcified lung nodules, 568 (63%) with significant bronchial wall thickening, 150 (16.7%) with bronchiectasis, 9 (1%) with interstitial lung disease. Overall, 445 patients (49.3%) had >2 lung abnormalities. Imaging findings suggestive of prior myocardial infarction (MI) were found in 1.4% (13 patients); 26.6% (240 patients) had CAC scores of 1 to 100, and 9.8% (89 patients) had CAC>100. 13.6% (123 patients) of the patients had CAC>100 and/or previous MI. MLHD was present in 484 patients (53.6%) and among 78 patients (16%) who never smoked. Table 1 describes CT findings according to pack year and stop smoking groups vs never smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
MLHD is common in HIV-infected individuals even in non-smokers. Reduced CD4 count (hence severity of HIV infection) may be an important risk factor for chronic lung and heart disease. Thoracic CT scans may provide an excellent screening tool to detect MLHD in HIV-infected patients.
Infectious Disease Clinic, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Stefano
S
Zona
Infectious Disease Clinic, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Antonella
A
Santoro
Radiology, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Giulia
G
Besutti
Radiology, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Guido
G
Ligabue
Infectious Disease Clinic, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Cristina
C
Mussini
Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton, Canada.
Paolo
P
Raggi
Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Jonathon
J
Leipsic
Medicine, University of British Columbia, UBC James Hogg Research Center, Vancouver, Canada.
Don D
DD
Sin
Infectious Disease Clinic, AOU Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Guaraldi