Category Archives: Cardiovascular
Choosing between dual and three-drug antiretroviral therapy in aging and comorbid people with HIV: A narrative review
The widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV infection into a chronic condition, with life expectancy of people with HIV (PWH) approaching that of the general population when...
Exploring the potential of cognitive intra-individual variability in HIV care and research in adults with HIV: A concept analysis
Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) refers to the variability in one’s ability to sustain consistent cognitive performance. This phenomenon is linked to the emergence of cognitive impairment and dementia. The aim...
Determinants of cardiovascular disease risk among LGBTQ+ populations: A systematic review of empirical evidence
BACKGROUND: Understanding the multifactorial drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in LGBTQ+ populations is critical to advancing equitable cardiovascular care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and synthesize empirical evidence on factors influencing...
The gut-immune axis in treated HIV infection: From mucosal damage to chronic inflammation and therapeutic opportunities—A clinician-oriented narrative review
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic disease. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) experience a 16-year reduction in comorbidity-free life expectancy compared to HIV-negative individuals,...
Exercise as a preventive and therapeutic strategy for non-communicable diseases in people living with HIV: Evidence, mechanisms and clinical implications
Objective To synthesise evidence on exercise for preventing and managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among HIV clients, emphasising sub-Saharan Africa. Design Narrative review. Data sources Meta-analyses, randomised trials, cohort studies, mechanistic...
Integrated care models for HIV, diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of effectiveness, implementation and real-world applicability
Background Sub-Saharan Africa faces a syndemic of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension. Integrated care models have been promoted to improve service efficiency and patient outcomes; however,...
Hypertension among people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared with people without HIV (PWoH): A systematic review with meta-analysis
Introduction Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor and has increased among people living with HIV. However, evidence on its association with HIV status remains inconsistent. This systematic review aimed...
Prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in HIV-infected children from sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is an emerging non-communicable complication among children living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where paediatric HIV burden remains high. However,...
Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol among older people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Metabolic comorbidities are significant health challenges for older people living with HIV (PLHIV). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing evidence and provide the pooled prevalence of...
Prevalence and risk of cardiovascular events among people living with HIV: A meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) have increased cardiovascular risk, but the contribution of HIV-related factors to all-cause cardiovascular events remains unclear. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of cardiovascular...
Prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among ART-naïve people with HIV: A global systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction The burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) is rising in people with HIV (PWH). While extensive data exist on CMD prevalence in PWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), comprehensive data on...
Organization and integration of care in the HIV-non-communicable disease syndemic: A rapid scoping review
Advances in antiretroviral therapy have transformed infection with HIV into a manageable chronic disease, increasing the survival of people living with HIV, who are also undergoing a demographic aging process...
