title: Risk of cardiovascular disease in HIV-positive Queensland men receiving combined antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death among HIV-positive individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The risk of CVD is estimated using a variety of risk calculations, however, currently there is no specific CVD risk calculator endorsed for Australians receiving cART.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 210 Queensland men older than 35 years with cART-treated HIV was conducted to estimate the prevalence of CVD and the risk of a cardiovascular event occurring within 5 years. The weighted Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to estimate the agreement between the Australian Absolute CVD Risk Calculator and the Data Collection on Adverse Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs Study (D:A:D) 5-year Estimated CVD Risk Equation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of CVD was 31.9%. Hypertensive disease was the most prevalent CVD (25.2%). Queensland men with cART-treated HIV were at moderate risk (5%) of a cardiovascular event in the next 5 years. There was a substantial agreement (κ=0.63) between the Australian Absolute CVD Risk Calculator and the D:A:D 5-year Estimated CVD Risk Equation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Queensland men with cART-treated HIV are experiencing high prevalence of CVD and are at moderate risk of a CVD event in the next 5 years. Primary care guidelines should emphasise CVD prevention as a keystone for the treatment of people living with HIV.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Furuya-Kanamori
authors.affiliation: Brisbane Sexual Health and HIV Service, 270 Roma Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McKenzie