A study on cardiac abnormalities in HIV patients and its relation with CD4 count and risk factors

Background: From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, it was recognized first at autopsy and later by non-invasive techniques that HIV infection can cause cardiac abnormalities. Aim of the study: To assess the cardiac abnormalities in HIV patients and its relation with CD4 count and risk factors. Materials and methods: A total of 150 patients were divided into two groups depending on the CD4 count. Group I included 51 (34%) patients with CD4 count ? 350 cells / mm3 and Group II included 99 (66%) patients with CD4 count > 350 cells / mm3. Among them 62 (41.3%) were males and 88 (58.7%) were females. All patients were subjected to a questionnaire to assess the risks of acquiring HIV, risk factors for cardiac disease. A thorough clinical examination was done. BMI was calculated as per WHO criteria for Asian population.CD4 count, ECG, Echocardiogram were done for all patients. Cardiologic data were correlated with age, sex, BMI, alcohol, smoking and CD4 count. Results: Our study populations mean age was 30.87± 6 years and mean BMI was 20.40 ±3.89 kg/m2. Mean CD4 count was 473.34 ± 223.20 cell/mm3 (Group I - 261.08 ± 83.75 cells/mm3; Group II - 582.69 ± 191.24 cells/mm3). Smokers and alcoholics constituted 7.3% (11 patients) and 8% (12 patients) respectively.Heterosexual was the most common (95.3%) route of infection. Prevalence of cardiac abnormality was 16.7%. Pericardial effusion was the most common abnormality. Conclusion: Cardiac abnormalities were specifically correlated with CD4 count. There was no correlation between age, sex, BMI, smoking and alcohol with cardiac abnormalities.