Comorbidity Is More Common in HIV-Positive Patients

Multimorbidity is more common in HIV-positive individuals than in HIV-negative individuals, with duration of HIV and treatment affecting this association, according to the results of a recent study.

In a cross sectional analysis of the South Brazilian HIV Cohort, researchers examined data from 208 HIV-positive participants and 208 HIV-negative controls, comparing multimorbidity (the presence of 2 or more comorbid conditions) between the groups.
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Overall, multimorbidity was more prevalent in HIV-positive individuals (63% vs 43%), with a median number of comorbidities of 2, compared with 1 in controls. Duration of both HIV infection and treatment with antiretrovirals were associated with greater multimorbidity in HIV-infected individuals.

“In this large cohort from the developing world, we found that multimorbidity was more common in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative controls. Duration of HIV and time on antiretrovirals were associated with multimorbidity,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Maciel RA, Kluch HM, Durand M, Sprinz E. Comorbidity is more common and occurs earlier in persons living with HIV than in HIV-uninfected matched controls, aged 50 years or older: a cross-sectional study [published online February 21, 2018]. Int J Infect Dis. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.02.009