Daijiworld Media Network – New York

New York, Jan 19: A new study published in Lancet HIV has found that existing cardiovascular risk models underestimate the risk for women and black men living with HIV (PWH) in high-income countries (HICs), while they tend to overestimate risk for PWH in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and an international team of investigators conducted a study using data from the REPRIEVE trial, which analyzed HIV-positive individuals across diverse global regions. The study revealed that current atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk models did not accurately predict cardiovascular events for these groups, calling for more region- and population-specific models.

Patrice Desvigne-Nickens of the NHLBI emphasized that the findings could help refine cardiovascular disease prediction for PWH by ensuring that models account for diverse populations at risk. The study highlights the need for nuanced risk assessments that reflect the unique challenges faced by PWH in different income settings.