Carotid Ultrasound Abnormalities of People Living With HIV in Kunming, China: Multiple Correspondence Analysis Approach to Identify Influencing Factors

Background: With the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH) is gradually increasing, but subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is becoming increasingly common in PLWH.

Methods: We obtained data from 326 PLWH. Based on the results of carotid ultrasonography, we divided patients into normal and abnormal carotid ultrasound groups and performed the χ² test and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to determine the influencing factors of abnormal carotid ultrasound.

Results: Among the 326 PLWH, the overall abnormality rate of carotid ultrasound was 31.9% (104/326). MCA showed that carotid ultrasound abnormalities were markedly more common in patients with age (non-youth), BMI ≥24.0 kg/m², hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, ART treatment ≥5 years, and CD4⁺T lymphocyte count <200/μL.

Conclusion: Carotid ultrasound is more likely to be abnormal when PLWH have higher age, BMI ≥24.0 kg/m², hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, a longer course of ART, and a low CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count.