Echocardiographic assessment of left cardiac structure and function in
ART-naïve people living with HIV/AIDS
Abstract
Background: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a
significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to
HIV-negative people. Left heart dysfunction is the most common cardiac
complication in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and diastolic
dysfunction is an important predictor of cardiovascular events. The aims
of this study were 1) to detect changes in left cardiac structure and
function in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive PLWHA using
echocardiography; and 2) to investigate the risk factors for the
development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in
ART-naive PLWHA. Methods: We retrospectively included 105 ART-naïve
PLWHA and included 90 healthy subjects as controls to compare the
differences in left heart structure and function between the two groups.
Univariate and multifactorial logistic regression were employed to
explore the risk factors of the development of LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA.
Results: The left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVEDD),
left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left atrial volume index (LAVI)
were significantly greater in PLWHA than in controls (p<0.05). The E/A
ratio, lateral e’ velocity, and mitral deceleration time (DT) were
significantly lower in PLWHA than in controls (p < 0.05).
Average E/e’ ratio was significantly higher in PLWHA than in controls (p
< 0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left
ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were not significantly
different between PLWHA and controls (p>0.05). Multifactorial logistic
regression analysis showed that age, body mass index (BMI), and CD4+
count < 200 cells/μL were independent influencing factors for
LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA (OR=1.781, 1.228, 3.683, p<0.05). Conclusions:
Left ventricular systolic function did not differ between PLWHA and
controls, and left ventricular diastolic function was lower in PLWHA
than in controls. Age, BMI, and CD4+ count were independent factors
affecting LVDD in ART-naive PLWHA.