Inflammatory Markers Associated With Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease: The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

BackgroundDespite evidence for higher risk of coronary artery disease among HIV+ individuals, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We investigated associations of inflammatory markers with subclinical coronary artery disease in 923 participants of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (575 HIV+ and 348 HIV- men) who underwent noncontrast computed tomography scans for coronary artery calcification, the majority (n=692) also undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography.Methods and resultsOutcomes included presence and extent of coronary artery calcification, plus computed tomography angiography analysis of presence, composition, and extent of coronary plaques and severity of coronary stenosis. HIV+ men had significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1, C-reactive protein, and soluble-tumor necrosis factor-α receptor (sTNFαR) I and II (all P<0.01) and a higher prevalence of noncalcified plaque (63% versus 54%, P=0.02) on computed tomography angiography. Among HIV+ men, for every SD increase in log-interleukin-6 and log intercellular adhesion molecule-1, there was a 30% and 60% increase, respectively, in the prevalence of coronary stenosis ≥50% (all P<0.05). Similarly, sTNFαR I and II in HIV+ participants were associated with an increase in prevalence of coronary stenosis ≥70% (P<0.05). Higher levels of interleukin-6, sTNFαR I, and sTNFαR II were also associated with greater coronary artery calcification score in HIV+ men (P<0.01).ConclusionsHigher inflammatory marker levels are associated with greater prevalence of coronary stenosis in HIV+ men. Our findings underscore the need for further study to elucidate the relationships of inflammatory pathways with coronary artery disease in HIV+ individuals

Integration of HIV testing services into family planning services: A systematic review

Background: Despite significant interest in integrating sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services into HIV services, less attention has been paid to linkages in the other direction. Where women and girls are at risk of HIV, offering HIV testing services (HTS) during their visits to family planning (FP) services offers important opportunities to address both HIV and unwanted pregnancy needs simultaneously. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies comparing FP services with integrated HTS to those without integrated HTS or with a lower level of integration (e.g., referral versus on-site services), on the following outcomes: uptake/counseling/offer of HTS, new cases of HIV identified, linkage to HIV care and treatment, dual method use, client satisfaction and service quality, and provider knowledge and attitudes about integrating HTS. We searched three online databases and included studies published in a peer-reviewed journal prior to the search date of June 20, 2017. Results: Of 530 citations identified, six studies ultimately met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were conducted in Kenya, and one each in Uganda, Swaziland, and the USA. Most were in FP clinics. Three were from the Integra Initiative. Overall rigor was moderate, with one cluster-randomized trial. HTS uptake was generally higher with integrated sites versus comparison or pre-integration sites, including in adjusted analyses, though outcomes varied slightly across studies. One study found that women at integrated sites were more likely to have high satisfaction with services, but experienced longer waiting times. One study found a small increase in HIV seropositivity among female patients testing after full integration, compared to a dedicated HIV tester. No studies comparatively measured linkage to HIV care and treatment, dual method use, or provider knowledge/attitudes. Conclusions: Global progress and success for reaching SRH and HIV targets depends on progress in sub-Saharan Africa, where women bear a high burden of both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. While the evidence base is limited, it suggests that integration of HTS into FP services is feasible and has potential for positive joint outcomes. The success and scale-up of this approach will depend on population needs and health system factors

Cardiovascular disease risk scores’ relationship to subclinical cardiovascular disease among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men

ObjectiveTo study cardiovascular disease risk score utility, we compared the association between Framingham Risk Score (FRS)/pooled cohort equation (PCE) categories and coronary artery plaque presence by HIV serostatus and evaluated whether D : A : D risk category more accurately identifies plaque in HIV-infected men.DesignCross-sectional analysis within a substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.MethodsCardiac computed tomography was performed to assess coronary plaque. We evaluated the association of plaque with increasing cardiovascular disease risk score category, stratified by HIV serostatus, using logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves compared the discrimination of the scores for plaque by HIV serostatus. The sensitivity and specificity of the risk scores were compared in HIV-infected men.ResultsThe risk score category - plaque associations were stronger among HIV-uninfected men than HIV-infected men, except for noncalcified plaque. For example, the odds of coronary artery calcium more than 0 were 7.03 (95% confidence interval 4.21, 11.76) times greater among men in the PCE high-risk versus low-risk category among HIV-uninfected men, compared with just 3.13 (95% confidence interval 2.13, 4.61) times greater among men in the high-risk versus low-risk category among HIV-infected men. Among HIV-infected men, high-risk category by PCE identified the greatest percentage of men with plaque/stenosis, but with lower specificity than D : A : D and FRS. The prevalence of coronary artery calcium more than 0 among men in the PCE low-risk category was 26.5% (HIV-uninfected men) and 36.0% (HIV-infected men).ConclusionsFRS and PCE categories associate with plaque burden better in HIV-uninfected men. No risk score delivered both high sensitivity and specificity among HIV-infected men

A Cross-sectional Study of the Association Between Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis Among Participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the association of chronic HCV infection and coronary atherosclerosis among participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.MethodsWe assessed 994 men with or without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (87 of whom had chronic HCV infection) for coronary plaque, using noncontrast coronary computed tomography (CT); 755 also underwent CT angiography. We then evaluated the associations of chronic HCV infection and HIV infection with measures of plaque prevalence, extent, and stenosis.ResultsAfter adjustment for demographic characteristics, HIV serostatus, behaviors, and CVD risk factors, chronic HCV infection was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of coronary artery calcium (prevalence ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.63), any plaque (prevalence ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.45), and noncalcified plaque (prevalence ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.16-1.75). Chronic HCV infection and HIV infection were independently associated with the prevalence of any plaque and of noncalcified plaque, but there was no evidence of a synergistic effect due to HIV/HCV coinfection. The prevalences of coronary artery calcium, any plaque, noncalcified plaque, a mixture of noncalcified and calcified plaque, and calcified plaque were significantly higher among men with an HCV RNA load of ≥2 × 10(6) IU/mL, compared with findings among men without chronic HCV infection.ConclusionsChronic HCV infection is associated with subclinical CVD, suggesting that vigilant assessments of cardiovascular risk are warranted for HCV-infected individuals. Future research should determine whether HCV infection duration or HCV treatment influence coronary plaque development

Understanding Patterns of Healthy Aging Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for an Observational Cohort Study

BackgroundWith the graying of sexual and gender minority communities and the growing number of people aged ≥50 years living with HIV, it is increasingly important to understand resilience in the context of the psychosocial aspects of aging and aging well. ObjectiveThis paper aims to describe the methods and sample for the Understanding Patterns of Healthy Aging Among Men Who Have Sex With Men study. MethodsThis observational cohort study was conducted within the Multisite AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and was designed to explore resiliencies to explain patterns of health and illness among middle-aged and older sexual minority men. To be eligible, a participant had to be an active participant in the MACS, be at least 40 years of age as of April 1, 2016, and report any sex with another man since enrollment in the MACS. ResultsEligible participants (N=1318) completed six biannual surveys between April 2016 and April 2019. The mean age of the sample was 59.6 years (range 40-91 years). The sample was mostly White, educated, gay-identified, and included both HIV-positive (656/1318, 49.77%) and HIV-negative (662/1318, 50.23%) men. ConclusionsUnderstanding resiliencies in aging is a critical springboard for the development of more holistic public health theories and interventions that support healthy aging among older sexual minority men. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/2575

Inflammatory Markers Associated With Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease: The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence for higher risk of coronary artery disease among HIV+ individuals, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We investigated associations of inflammatory markers with subclinical coronary artery disease in 923 participants of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (575 HIV+ and 348 HIV− men) who underwent noncontrast computed tomography scans for coronary artery calcification, the majority (n=692) also undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes included presence and extent of coronary artery calcification, plus computed tomography angiography analysis of presence, composition, and extent of coronary plaques and severity of coronary stenosis. HIV+ men had significantly higher levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, C‐reactive protein, and soluble‐tumor necrosis factor‐α receptor (sTNFαR) I and II (all P<0.01) and a higher prevalence of noncalcified plaque (63% versus 54%, P=0.02) on computed tomography angiography. Among HIV+ men, for every SD increase in log‐interleukin‐6 and log intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, there was a 30% and 60% increase, respectively, in the prevalence of coronary stenosis ≥50% (all P<0.05). Similarly, sTNFαR I and II in HIV+ participants were associated with an increase in prevalence of coronary stenosis ≥70% (P<0.05). Higher levels of interleukin‐6, sTNFαR I, and sTNFαR II were also associated with greater coronary artery calcification score in HIV+ men (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Higher inflammatory marker levels are associated with greater prevalence of coronary stenosis in HIV+ men. Our findings underscore the need for further study to elucidate the relationships of inflammatory pathways with coronary artery disease in HIV+ individuals

The Effect of Discrimination and Resilience on Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Men Who Have Sex With Men

This study investigated if homophobic and racist discrimination increased depressive symptoms among 960 middle-aged and older men who have sex with men (MSM) and how resilience moderated these relationships. We used five waves of longitudinal data from the Healthy Aging sub-study of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). We used linear regression analyses to model depressive symptoms as a function of discrimination. We used linear mixed analyses to model changes in mean resilience scores across visits. We used linear regression analyses to model depressive symptoms as a function of changes in resilience and to test the moderation effects of resilience on the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms. The models accounted for repeated measures of resilience. Men who experienced external and internal homophobia had greater depressive symptoms (β: 2.08; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.65, 3.51; β: 1.60; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.76, 2.44). Men experienced significant changes in mean resilience levels across visits (F = 2.84, p = 0.02). Men with a greater positive change in resilience had lower depressive symptoms (β: -0.95; 95% Confidence Interval: -1.47, -0.43). Men with higher average resilience levels had lower depressive symptoms (β: -5.08; 95% Confidence Interval: -5.68, -4.49). Men's resilience did not moderate the relationship between homophobia and depressive symptoms. Significant associations of external and internal homophobia with greater depressive symptoms present targets for future research and interventions among middle-aged and older MSM. Significant associations of average and positive changes in resilience with lower depressive symptoms provide aims for future research and interventions with this population

Suboptimal HIV suppression is associated with progression of coronary artery stenosis: The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) longitudinal coronary CT angiography study

Background and aimsPeople living with HIV (HIV+) are surviving longer due to effective antiretroviral therapy. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of non-AIDS related clinical events. We determined HIV-related factors associated with coronary artery stenosis progression.MethodsWe performed serial coronary CT angiography among HIV+ and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. The median inter-scan interval was 4.5 years. Stenosis was graded as 0, 1-29, 30-49, 50-69 or ≥70%. Progression was defined as an increase ≥2 categories. Suppressed HIV infection was consistent viral loads &lt;50 copies/mL allowing 1 "blip" &lt;500 copies/mL, otherwise considered viremic. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis assessed adjusted associations between HIV serostatus and viremia with coronary stenosis progression.ResultsThe sample included 310 HIV+ (31% viremic) and 234 HIV- men. The median age was 53 years, 30% Black and 23% current smokers. Viremic men were 2.3 times more likely to develop coronary stenosis progression than HIV- men (adjusted RR 2.30; 95% CI, 1.32-4.00, p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.003), with no difference in progression between HIV+&nbsp;suppressed and HIV- men (RR 1.10; 95% CI, 0.70-1.74, p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.67). There was a progressive increase in adjusted relative risk with greater viremia (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.03). Men with &gt;1 viral load &gt;500 copies/ml demonstrated greatest stenosis progression (RR 3.01; 95% CI, 1.53-4.92, p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.001 compared with HIV- men). Suppressed HIV+&nbsp;men with suboptimal antiretroviral adherence had greater stenosis progression (RR 1.91; 95% CI 1.12-3.24, p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.02) than HIV&nbsp;+&nbsp;suppressed men with optimal adherence.ConclusionsCoronary artery stenosis progression was associated with suboptimal HIV RNA suppression and antiretroviral therapy adherence. Effective ongoing HIV virologic suppression and antiretroviral therapy adherence may mitigate risk for coronary disease events among people living with HIV