About HIV and cardiovascular risk
Did you know, people living with HIV have a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease?
Increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in people living with HIV is the result of complex interactions between traditional risk factors, antiretroviral medicines (ART) mediated adverse effects and the chronic inflammation and immune activation associated with long-term HIV infection.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has developed a Screening for cardiovascular disease risk in people living with HIV checklist that can be used to help you screen for risk factors for CVD in your patients living with HIV and guide you to educate and refer those at increased risk to see their doctor for a comprehensive clinical assessment.
The complete screening checklist contains an appendix with explanations of risk factors, risks associated with different ARTs. The checklist can be used in a variety of clinical settings.