OR02-5 Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction is Present Among Well-Treated Asymptomatic Persons with HIV, Similar to Those with Diabetes
Authors: DiCarli Marcelo , Grinspoon Steven , Iyengar Sanjna , Shen Grace , Srinivasa Suman , Thomas Terresa , Walpert Allie , Huck Daniel M 
Published: November 2022

Persons with HIV (PWH) who are well-treated on antiretroviral therapies (ART) have a 1.5-2.0 fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to persons without HIV (PWOH). A unique cardiovascular phenotype is seen in HIV such that traditional cardiovascular risk factors alone to do not account for this excess CVD risk. Coronary microvascular dysfunction may promote subendocardial ischemia and cardiomyocyte injury and provide a potential underlying mechanism for the atherosclerotic and myocardial disease prevalent in HIV. We assessed coronary microvascular function among those with HIV, comparing to those without HIV and with diabetes (DM).

39 PWH with no known history of CVD or DM, required to be on stable ART and virologically controlled (HIV viral load &lt;200 copies/mL), underwent coronary 13N-ammonia PET/CT to evaluate coronary flow reserve (CFR)—a measure of microvascular dysfunction calculated by the ratio of peak coronary flow during regadenoson stress to rest. CFR was corrected using the rate pressure product, which integrates resting blood pressure and heart rate. A 0.1 unit reduction in CFR is associated with a 8% increase in hazard of CV events. Comparisons of CFR were made to PWOH from a database of higher risk clinical referrals who were matched approximately 2: 1 based on demographics and traditional risk factors and to those with diabetes and no known history of CVD recruited as part of a prior study evaluating CFR. Overall group comparisons for CFR were analyzed with the Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis test, and if significant, the Mann-Whitney U test was employed for two-group comparisons.

PWH(74% male, age 55±7years, BMI 32±6kg/m2, duration HIV 20±8years, duration ART 16±7years, CD4+ count 801±333cells/ul) were similar to PWOH(n=69, 74% male, age 55±8years, BMI 32±6kg/m2) and persons with DM(n=63, 63% male, age 55±8years, BMI 32±5kg/m2). CFR was significantly different among groups: PWOH 2.76(2.37,3.36), PWH 2.47(1.92,2.93), DM 2.31(1.98,2.84), overall P=.003. CFR was significantly reduced when comparing to PWH to PWOH(P=.02) as was DM to PWOH(P=.001) and did not differ when comparing PWH to DM(P=.68). Total cholesterol 182(168,205)mg/dL, LDL 108(77,127)mg/dL, triglycerides 159(88,219)mg/dL, and current tobacco use 23% were overall significantly higher among PWH (overall P&lt;.03 for each comparison). Controlling for group status (PWH vs. PWOH) and either total cholesterol or current tobacco use, only group status remained significantly and independently related to CFR (group status P=.02 and .01, respectively).

Subclinical coronary microvascular dysfunction is present among asymptomatic, chronically infected PWH on ART who demonstrate good immunological control. This study demonstrates for the first time CFR is reduced compared to higher risk PWOH and comparable to those with DM, regardless of traditional CVD risk factors, and further highlights well-treated HIV as a CVD-risk enhancing factor similar to diabetes. The implications of reduced CFR in HIV warrants further investigation.

Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.