Coronary disease & ACSCohort study
Coronary Inflammation Is Associated With Plaque Progression in Men With HIV
- Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Coronary inflammation, assessed by FAI, is independently associated with incident and progressive coronary plaque in men with HIV. These findings support a role for vascular inflammation in accelerated atherosclerosis in people with HIV and highlight FAI as a potential biomarker for risk stratification.
Study context
- Population
- Men with and without HIV from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study undergoing serial coronary computed tomography angiographywith HIV 292 · without HIV 212
- Participants
- 504 men
- Exposure
- whether coronary inflammation is associated with the incidence and progression of coronary plaque and whether these relationships differ by HIV status
- men with HIVn = 292
- men without HIVn = 212
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Highest tertile of noncalcified plaque progression, per SD increase in fat attenuation index (FAI) score (men with HIV) · median of 4.5 years (3.8-4.9)
Odds ratio (CI)
per SD increase in LAD FAI scoreLAD
1.83(1.27–2.64)
per SD increase in left circumflex FAI scoreleft circumflex
2.55(1.66–3.91)
Each row per its own increment, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest tertile of calcified plaque progression, per SD increase in FAI score (men with HIV) — per SD increase in LAD FAI score · LAD · adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors · remained significant after adjustment for baseline plaque | 2.62 (1.64–4.18) | |
| Highest tertile of calcified plaque progression, per SD increase in FAI score (men with HIV) — per SD increase in left circumflex FAI score · left circumflex · adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors · remained significant after adjustment for baseline plaque | 3.92 (2.36–6.51) | |
| Highest tertile of total plaque progression, per SD increase in FAI score (men with HIV) — per SD increase in LAD FAI score · LAD · adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors · remained significant after adjustment for baseline plaque | 1.81 (1.25–2.62) | |
| Highest tertile of total plaque progression, per SD increase in FAI score (men with HIV) — per SD increase in left circumflex FAI score · left circumflex · adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors · remained significant after adjustment for baseline plaque | 2.65 (1.71–4.10) | |
| 0.10.31310Odds ratio (log scale) |
Incident calcified plaque (men with HIV)
| Comparison | RR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher LAD FAI score | 1.21 (1.01–1.46) | |
| 0.512Relative risk (log scale) |
Noncalcified and calcified plaque progression, by HIV status
- Associations stronger in men with HIV than in men without HIV
Original publication
Coronary Inflammation Is Associated With Plaque Progression in Men With HIV. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 26 August 2026. doi:10.1161/circimaging.126.020165
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it