Electrocardiograms and screening echocardiograms in young adults who acquired HIV perinatally and non-perinatally: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Lifelong exposure to HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) may elevate cardiovascular risk as individuals with perinatally acquired HIV transition into adulthood. We evaluated subclinical electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic abnormalities in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Thailand between 2022-2023. Young adults who acquired HIV perinatally were enroled, alongside age-matched adults who acquired HIV non-perinatally. Participants underwent standard ECG and screening echocardiography. RESULTS: = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical cardiac abnormalities were infrequent and comparable between young adults with perinatally and non-perinatally acquired HIV. Low-voltage ECG was associated with incomplete virologic suppression. Optimising antiretroviral regimens to maintain a suppressed viral load may help reduce subclinical cardiac abnormalities in young people with HIV.