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HIV patients

HIV/AIDS Research Reveals Higher Mortality Risk in Young People Living with the Disease

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research on HIV/AIDS has recently been published, revealing a significant difference in mortality rates between people living with HIV (PLWH) and the general population in Spain. According to the study, people living with HIV aged 25-54 years had similar incidence rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke as the general population, but had significantly higher crude all-cause standardized mortality rates. However, those under 55 years old still faced a more than three-fold higher risk of death from any cause.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study compared 15-year incidence of coronary artery disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality between PLWH and the Spanish general population, using two Spanish cohorts: VACH and REGICOR.
  • The research found that in men aged 25-54 years with HIV, the adjusted standardized incidence rates of CAD and stroke were similar to those in the general population.
  • However, PLWH had significantly higher crude all-cause standardized mortality rates than the general population, with men experiencing 2790 (2536-3044) vs 1104 (1015-1192) and women experiencing 2011 (1632-2391) vs 588 (528-648) deaths per 100,000 person-years.
  • The study concluded that PLWH younger than 55 years still face a more than three-fold higher risk of death from any cause.
  • The research involved 6829 PLWH and 10,218 general population participants, with adults aged 25-74 years followed for a mean of 15 years.

Statistics:

  • The adjusted standardized incidence rates of CAD and stroke in men aged 25-54 years with HIV were similar to those in the general population.
  • The crude all-cause standardized mortality rates per 100,000 person-years in PLWH were:

+ Men: 2790 (2536-3044)

+ Women: 2011 (1632-2391)

  • The crude all-cause standardized mortality rates per 100,000 person-years in the general population were:

+ Men: 1104 (1015-1192)

+ Women: 588 (528-648)

Sources:

  • International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2025;160:108061.
  • International Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) - www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-infectious-diseases/
  • NewsRx, New HIV/AIDS Findings from Hospital del Mar Research Institute Described (Age-standardized comparison of coronary artery disease, stroke incidence, and all-cause mortality between people living with HIV and the general population in Spain). AIDS Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 86.

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