Objective: Data on the frequency of cardiovascular disease in people living with human immunodeficiency virus from low- and middle-income countries is scarce.
Methods: We performed an observational study based on data from a historical cohort of people living with human immunodeficiency virus in Colombia during a 10-year follow-up to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their behavior according to CD4 count.
Results: One thousand patients were initially included, out of which 390 had a 10-year follow-up. The mean age was 34 (standard deviation 10) years, and 90% were male. We observed an increase in the prevalence of dyslipidemia (29%-52%, p < 0.001) and obesity (1.1%-3.5%, p < 0.001). Major cardiovascular events occurred in less than 1% of patients. Patients with a CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 had a higher frequency of acute myocardial infarction and obesity.
Conclusion: Over time, people living with human immunodeficiency virus present with an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, particularly those with a lower CD4 count.
Keywords: HIV; Latin America; epidemiology; heart disease risk factors; prevalence.
© The Author(s) 2023.