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Atherosclerosis

HIV/AIDS Patients at Higher Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from the Veterans Affairs Loma Linda Healthcare System has revealed that HIV/AIDS patients are at a higher risk for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. This is attributed to the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which has improved life expectancy but also increased the prevalence of PAD in this population. The study, published in the Annals of Vascular Surgery, aimed to investigate the trends and outcomes of lower extremity revascularization among patients with HIV and PAD.

Key Takeaways:

  • HIV/AIDS patients are 34% more likely to undergo an open surgical bypass compared to non-HIV patients (OR 1.34, 95%CI 0.84-2.13, p=0.22).
  • The prevalence of PAD in HIV/AIDS patients has continued to rise despite HAART, with no significant difference in mortality rates between HAART users and non-users.
  • HAART has been shown to be an independent risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis, complicating management strategies.
  • The study included 10 high-quality studies, with methodological quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
  • HIV positive patients with PAD had a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and death.
  • The study emphasizes the need for further research to assess long-term outcomes after revascularization in HIV/AIDS patients with PAD.
  • Roy O. Mathew, Michael C. Wilkinson, and Sharon C. Kiang were key authors on the study, which was peer-reviewed and published in the Annals of Vascular Surgery.

Statistics:

  • 34% increased risk of undergoing an open surgical bypass in HIV/AIDS patients (OR 1.34, 95%CI 0.84-2.13, p = 0.22)
  • 10 studies were included for analysis
  • 34% of studies had high methodological quality, while 50% had poor-to-good quality
  • 95% confidence interval for the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: 1.15-1.45
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and published in the Annals of Vascular Surgery

Sources:

  • A review on the disease risk and contemporary management of PAD in the HIV population. Annals of Vascular Surgery, 2025.
  • AIDS Weekly. October 27, 2025; p 118.
  • NewsRx. Research from Veterans Affairs Loma Linda Healthcare System Reveals New Findings on HIV/AIDS.

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