Cardiovascular manifestations of people living with HIV/AIDS: Report from a hot spot in eastern India

OBJECTIVE: To study the profile and characteristics of cardiovascular abnormalities among patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at a tertiary care hospital in India. The association of cardiovascular abnormalities with the CD4 count and disease stages, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, was also analyzed. METHODS: A total of 200 patients with HIV/AIDS were compared with 50 healthy controls. All patients underwent blood investigations, chest X-ray, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.66 ± 9.22 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.25:1. Echocardiographic abnormalities were found in 52% of the patients and 12% of the controls, with the most common abnormality being left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Echocardiographic abnormalities were markedly more common in patients with a CD4 count of <200/μL. The advanced stage of the disease, according to the WHO classification, was also associated with an increased incidence of echocardiographic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular abnormalities in the form of electrocardiogram and ECHO findings were present in 54.5% and 52% of patients, respectively. Echocardiographic findings showed significant correlation with CD4 count and WHO disease stage.