Study Adds to Signs Linking HIV to Heart Trouble | WPN World People News

Long-term HIV infection is linked to an increased risk of heart disease in men, a new study finds.

For the study, researchers looked at 618 HIV-infected men and 383 uninfected men, aged 40 to 70, in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles areas.

Study participants who had more advanced HIV and had been taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART -- a combination of drugs that target HIV) for a long time were more likely to have plaque buildup in their heart arteries and narrowing of the arteries.

This is called coronary artery disease and can lead to a heart attack.

Previous research has suggested an association between HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and heart disease, but the results have been inconclusive.

Knowing about the link between long-term HIV infection and heart disease is important because treatment advances have led to HIV/AIDS patients living much longer.

These study findings show the importance of identifying and treating heart disease risk factors in HIV patients, especially those with more advanced HIV.

The researchers plan to investigate whether earlier treatment with HAART might reduce heart disease risk in people with HIV.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services