Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among HIV Patients

Recently published observations (1) suggest that among HIV-positive patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increased. Until now, no specific risk factors have been identified except for those related to behavior or metabolic abnormalities. So far, a sum of metabolic abnormalities have frequently been reported among these patients, including increased lipid levels, abnormal fat distribution, elevated blood pressure, and disturbance in glucose metabolism (2). Studies designed to identify subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients on HAART have been inconclusive. Numerous modalities, including carotid intimal thickness measurement, brachial reactivity, and electron beam computed tomography, have shown varying results; at this time, it is unclear what the results mean. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors (disturbance …