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HIV-positive people have heart attacks younger but receive later care
Liz Highleyman, 2012-09-10 10:50:00

People with HIV had heart attacks at a younger age than HIV-negative individuals and were about 50% more likely to die after an acute myocardial infarction, according to a study presented yesterday at the 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco. A related analysis found that HIV-positive people received coronary catheterisation at a later stage, after they had more advanced heart damage.

Several studies have shown that people with HIV are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, though it is not yet clear whether this is due to persistent viral infection, resulting immune activation and inflammation, side-effects of antiretroviral therapy, traditional risk factors or some combination of these factors.

Inflammation and metabolic changes can contribute to atherosclerosis, a process in which artery walls thicken and lose their elasticity. Over time, this leads to impaired blood flow to the heart and brain, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. Various procedures may be used to open blocked vessels, but outcomes are better if these procedures are done early.

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