Cardiac care must become integral to long-term HIV treatment, say experts

Cardiac care should be an essential component of long-term HIV treatment as people living with the virus are living longer due to advancements in antiretroviral therapy, according to experts at a national symposium in India. Organized by the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in collaboration with the AIDS Society of India, the "HIV and Heart Symposium 2026" gathered cardiologists, HIV specialists, and other professionals to discuss the growing connection between HIV and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. H.S. Nataraj Setty, a cardiology professor and course director for the symposium, emphasized that the success of antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV care, allowing individuals to lead longer and healthier lives. However, this increased life expectancy necessitates a focus on cardiovascular health as well as other long-term complications.

Dr. B. Dinesh, director of Jayadeva, highlighted the need for early recognition, appropriate investigation, and timely treatment of cardiovascular disease among people living with HIV. The symposium also explored the evolution of India's HIV response over the past four decades, from initial efforts to curb the epidemic to the widespread availability of affordable antiretroviral treatment.

Dr. Ishwar Gilada, secretary-general of the People's Health Organisation and president emeritus of the AIDS Society of India, presented "From Local to Global: India's Four-Decade Journey in the Fight Against AIDS," detailing how the country's HIV response has progressed from early public warnings and clinical interventions in the 1980s to community-based prevention and expanded access to antiretroviral therapy.

He noted that the affordability of generic medicines has helped bridge the gap between HIV treatment availability and access in resource-limited countries, including those in Africa. However, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, chairman of Narayana Health, raised concerns about the reluctance of some hospitals to provide cardiac treatment to HIV-positive patients due to infection risks associated with handling blood.

Jayadeva has treated over 1,200 HIV-positive patients for cardiac issues since 2013, demonstrating a potential solution to this apprehension.