A Meta‐Analysis of Different Types of Cardiac Adipose Tissue in HIV Patients

Background. Antiretroviral therapy transformed HIV infection into a chronic disease but accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial fat (PCF) have close relationships with CVD. The associations between these two cardiac adipose tissue and HIV are unclear. Methods. Eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus from database inception to March 24, 2020. The summarized standard mean difference (SMD) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to assess the association between EAT/PCF and HIV. Subgroup analysis was performed based on EAT types. Trial sequential analysis was conducted to estimate whether the evidence of the results is sufficient. Results. In total, 2561 HIV patients and 1767 non‐HIV participants were included. Compared to the control group, EAT was significantly higher in the HIV overall group and subgroup with EAT thickness (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.24–0.95, P = 0.001; SMD = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.41–1.79, P = 0.002); however, the EAT volume and PCF volume were unchanged in the HIV group (SMD = 0.16, 95% CI: ‐0.07–0.39, P = 0.169; WMD = 10.78, 95% CI: ‐14.11–35.67, P = 0.396). Trial sequential analysis indicated that the available samples were sufficient in the HIV overall group and subgroup with EAT thickness, and more studies are needed for EAT volume and PCF volume. Conclusions. EAT thickness was significantly higher in patients with HIV. The association between EAT/PCF volume and HIV needs more studies to confirm.