Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) and with an aging population, is likely to become one of the leading challenges in maintaining good health outcomes in HIV infection. However, factors driving the risk of CVD in PLWH are multiple and may be different from those of the general population, raising challenges to predicting and managing CVD risk in this population.
Areas covered: In this review, we examine the relevant data regarding CVD in HIV infection including CVD prevalence, pathogenesis, and other contributing factors. We review the data regarding CVD risk prediction in PLWH and summarize factors, both general and HIV specific, that may influence CVD risk in this population. And finally, we discuss appropriate management of CVD risk in PLWH and explore potential therapeutic pathways which may mitigate CVD risk in the future in this population.
Expert opinion: Following a comprehensive review of CVD risk in PLWH, we give our opinion on the primary issues in risk prediction and management of CVD in HIV infected individuals and discuss the future direction of CVD management in this population.
Keywords: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART); CVD management; CVD prevention; HIV; cardiovascular disease; inflammation.