Sex Differences in Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Systemic Immune Activation/Inflammation Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States

Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Jan 13;76(2):323-334. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac767.

Abstract

Background: Among people with HIV (PWH), sex differences in presentations of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) may be influenced by differences in coronary plaque parameters, immune/inflammatory biomarkers, or relationships therein.

Methods: REPRIEVE, a primary ASCVD prevention trial, enrolled antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated PWH. At entry, a subset of US participants underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and immune phenotyping (n = 755 CTA; n = 725 CTA + immune). We characterized sex differences in coronary plaque and immune/inflammatory biomarkers and compared immune-plaque relationships by sex. Unless noted otherwise, analyses adjust for ASCVD risk score.

Results: The primary analysis cohort included 631 males and 124 females. ASCVD risk was higher among males (median: 4.9% vs 2.1%), while obesity rates were higher among females (48% vs 21%). Prevalence of any plaque and of plaque with either ≥1 visible noncalcified portion or vulnerable features (NC/V-P) was lower among females overall and controlling for relevant risk factors (RR [95% CI] for any plaque: .67 [.50, .92]; RR for NC/V-P: .71 [.51, 1.00] [adjusted for ASCVD risk score and body mass index]). Females showed higher levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, and D-dimer and lower levels of Lp-PLA2 (P < .001 for all). Higher levels of Lp-PLA2, MCP-1, and oxLDL were associated with higher plaque (P < .02) and NC/V-P prevalence, with no differences by sex. Among females but not males, D-dimer was associated with higher prevalence of NC/V-P (interaction P = .055).

Conclusions: Among US PWH, females had a lower prevalence of plaque and NC/V-P, as well as differences in key immune/inflammatory biomarkers. Immune-plaque relationships differed by sex for D-dimer but not other tested parameters. Clinical Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT0234429 (date of initial registration: 22 January 2015).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00234429.

Keywords: HIV; coronary atherosclerosis; inflammation; reproductive aging; women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
  • Atherosclerosis* / epidemiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / complications
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • HIV
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Male
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic* / complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Characteristics
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
  • Biomarkers

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00234429