Increased Risk of Myocardial Infarction in HIV-Infected Individuals in North America Compared to the General Population

Abstract

Background

Previous studies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among HIV-infected individuals have been limited by the inability to validate and differentiate atherosclerotic type 1 myocardial infarctions (T1MIs) from other events. We sought to define the incidence of T1MIs and risk attributable to traditional and HIV-specific factors among participants in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD), and compare adjusted incidence rates to the general population Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort.

Methods

We ascertained and adjudicated incident MIs among individuals enrolled in seven NA-ACCORD cohorts between 1995–2014. We calculated incidence rates (IR), adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs), and 95% confidence intervals ([,]) of risk factors for T1MI using Poisson regression. We compared aIRRs of T1MIs in NA-ACCORD with those from ARIC.

Results

Among 29,169 HIV-infected individuals, the IR for T1MIs was 2.57[2.30–2.86] per 1000 person-years, and the aIRR was significantly higher compared with participants in ARIC (1.30[1.09–1.56]). In multivariable analysis restricted to HIV-infected individuals and including traditional CVD risk factors, the rate of T1MI increased with decreasing CD4 count (≥500 cells/μL: ref; 350–499 cells/μL: aIRR=1.32[0.98–1.77]; 200–349 cells/μL: aIRR=1.37[1.01–1.86]; 100–199 cells/μL: aIRR=1.60[1.09–2.34]; <100 cells/μL: aIRR=2.19[1.44–3.33]). Risk associated with detectable HIV RNA (<400 copies/mL: ref; ≥400 copies/mL: aIRR=1.36 [1.06–1.75]) was significantly increased only when CD4 was excluded.

Conclusions

The higher incidence of T1MI in HIV-infected individuals and increased risk associated with lower CD4 count and detectable HIV RNA suggest that early suppressive antiretroviral treatment and aggressive management of traditional CVD risk factors are necessary to maximally reduce MI risk.