Low CD4 Cell Counts Are Associated with Carotid Plaque and Intima–Media Thickness in Virologically Suppressed HIV-Infected Asians Older Than 50 Years

Information about the prevalence, and risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in an Asian HIV-infected population is limited. Carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is one predictor for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVDs) and mortality. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors related to carotid atherosclerosis among well-suppressed HIV-infected adults receiving long-term ART from Thailand. This was a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected adults >50 years of age and free from CVDs from Thailand during 1 March 2016 and 30 May 2017. Ultrasonography of the carotid was performed and read by cIMT experienced neurologists who were blinded from the patient care. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined by carotid plaque or cIMT of the common carotid artery (CCA) >0.9 mm. Totally 316 HIV-infected adults (61% males) were included. Median age was 54.4 years and 15.8% were diabetic, 40.2% had hypertension, and 12.7% were current smokers. The median duration of ART was 16.3 years and 32% were currently on boosted protease inhibitor. The mean overall cIMT of the common carotid arteries were 0.63 (IQR 0.55–0.72) mm. Men had higher cIMT than women, 0.64 (IQR 0.56–0.76) vs. 0.60 (IQR 0.53–0.70), p = .03. Overall, 3.8% had cIMT >0.9 mm and 24.4% had carotid plaque. From the multivariate logistic regression analysis, age per 1 year increase [odds ratio (OR) 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.003–1.12; p = .04] and nadir CD4 < 200 cells/mm 3 (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.02–3.18, p = .04) were significantly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was not associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. In this well-suppressed HIV-infected Aging Asian cohort with relatively low prevalence of current smokers, 26.9% of them had subclinical atherosclerosis. Advanced age and low nadir CD4 cell count were significantly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Given that approximately a quarter of the patients had carotid plaques, longitudinal studies to evaluate the development of future overt coronary artery disease and stroke are warranted.