Prevalence of HIV infection in Turkey and importance of cardiovascular disease

After effective antiretroviral therapy, the survival of patients infected with HIV has increased substantially. Currently, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of death among HIV infected patients in developed countries. Even in the setting of viral suppression, HIV infected patients without major CVD risk factors had 1,5-2 fold greater risk of MI. The pathophysiology of CVD in HIV infected patients is complex and involves a combination of HIV infection itself, antiretroviral drug effects and traditional risk factors. HIV-infected patients are more likely to have high-risk plaques. The tools used for assessing risk of CVD in the general population have not been validated for HIV infected patients and generally underestimate the severity of disease in HIV+ patient. Statins have wide immunomodulatory effects, and their use in the HIV-infected population may be of particular benefit. When selecting a statin to reach target LDL-C levels, potential drug interactions with antiretroviral drugs must be considered. Ongoing studies is expected to define optimal approaches to statin treatment in this population. Strategies to prevent CVD in HIV-infected individuals needs for a multidisciplinary approach.