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In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L, a marker of platelet activation), soluble thrombomodulin, and syndecan‐1 (both well‐described markers of endothelial dysfunction) and metabolic syndrome in a large cohort of well‐treated people with HIV (PWH) and to elucidate their association with HIV‐specific variables. We included 862 PWH with undetectable viral replication. Our hypotheses were tested using uni‐ and multivariable logistic regression models a priori adjusted for well‐known confounders. While no association of soluble thrombomodulin and syndecan‐1 with MetS was found, high levels of sCD40L (aOR 1.54 [1.07–2.22]) were associated with excess risk of MetS. Given the previously described association between sCD40L, vascular inflammation and endothelial damage, the results presented in our study may suggest a potential role for sCD40L in the well‐known association between cardiometabolic comorbidity and HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) have an increased risk of chronic lung diseases and chronic inflammation. We aimed to investigate if inflammatory markers and monocyte activation are associated with faster lung function decline in PWH. Methods We included 655 PWH from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) Study. Eligible participants were aged ≥25 years and had 2 spirometries separated by >2 years. Inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]–1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor–α, and interferon-γ) were measured at baseline by Luminex, and soluble CD14 and soluble CD163 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using linear mixed models, we investigated whether elevated cytokine levels were associated with faster lung function decline. Results The majority of PWH were males (85.2%) with undetectable viral replication (95.3%). We found a faster decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in PWH with elevated IL-1β and IL-10, with an additional decline of 10.3 mL/year (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1–18.6; P =.014) and 10.0 mL/year (95% CI, 1.8–18.2; P =.017), respectively. We found no interaction between smoking and IL-1β or IL-10 on FEV1 decline. Conclusions Elevated IL-1β and IL-10 were independently associated with faster lung function decline in PWH, suggesting that dysregulated systemic inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Little is known about the prevalence of aortic aneurysms among people living with HIV (PLWH). We investigated whether HIV status is independently associated with having aortic aneurysms. Furthermore, we determined risk factors associated with aortic aneurysms in PLWH. Methods and results PLWH aged ≥40 years (n  = 594) were recruited from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection study and matched for age and sex with uninfected controls (n  = 1188) from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Aortic dimensions were assessed using contrast enhanced computed tomography. Aortic aneurysms were defined according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines, i.e. an aortic dilation of ≥50% or an infrarenal aortic diameter of ≥30 mm. Among PLWH and uninfected controls, the median (interquartile range) age was 52 (47–60) and 52 (48–61) and 88% and 90% were male, respectively. We found 46 aneurysms in 42 (7.1%) PLWH and 31 aneurysms in 29 (2.4%) uninfected controls (P  < 0.001). PLWH had a significantly higher prevalence of ascending aortic aneurysms and infrarenal aortic aneurysms. In an adjusted model, HIV was independently associated with aortic aneurysms (adjusted odds ratio; 4.51 [95% confidence interval 2.56–8.08], P  < 0.001). Within PLWH, obesity and hepatitis B co-infection were associated with aortic aneurysms. Conclusion PLWH had four-fold higher odds of aortic aneurysms compared to uninfected controls, and HIV status was independently associated with aortic aneurysms. Among PLWH, age, obesity and hepatitis B co-infection were associated with higher odds of aortic aneurysms. Our findings suggest that increased attention to aortic aneurysms in PLWH may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increased risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been reported in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation. We assessed FeNO levels in PLWH and matched uninfected controls and investigated whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status is independently associated with elevated FeNO. Methods FeNO was quantified by NIOX Vero and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry in 432 PLWH from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection Study and in 1618 age- and sex-matched uninfected controls from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Elevated FeNO was defined as ≥25 parts per billion. Associations between FeNO and HIV status were adjusted for known potential confounders. Results Mean age of PLWH was 50.7 (standard deviation [SD], 11.1) years and 97.4% received combination antiretroviral therapy. PLWH had higher FeNO than uninfected controls (median, 17.0 [interquartile range {IQR}, 11.0–26.0] vs 13.0 [IQR, 9.0–19.0]; P  < .001). Also, PLWH had a higher prevalence of elevated FeNO than uninfected controls (27.5% vs 12.3%; P  < .001). This association remained after adjusting for age, sex, height, smoking status, use of airway medication, blood eosinophils, and immunoglobulin E (adjusted OR [aOR], 3.56 [95% CI, 2.51–5.04]; P  < .001). Elevated FeNO was associated with self-reported asthma (aOR, 2.65 [95% CI, 1.66–4.24]; P  < .001) but not with airflow limitation (aOR, 1.07 [95% CI,.71–1.62]; P  = .745). Conclusions HIV status was independently associated with elevated FeNO, suggesting increased eosinophilic airway inflammation. The potential impact on chronic lung disease pathogenesis needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) findings in well-treated people with HIV infection (PWH) remain poorly characterized.Methods: Cross-sectional analysis examining interstitial chest CT findings in PWH (n = 754) and uninfected controls (n = 470).Results: HIV infection was independently associated with 1.82 (95% CI, 1.18-2.88) and 5.15 (95% CI, 1.72-22.2) higher adjusted odds of any interstitial lung abnormality and findings suspicious for interstitial lung disease, respectively.Conclusions: HIV infection was independently associated with interstitial lung abnormalities and findings suspicious for interstitial lung disease. Whether these abnormalities develop into more recognizable disease states over time is unknown but warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Prior to the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), cytopenias were common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but it is unknown if well-controlled HIV infection is a risk factor for cytopenia. In this study we aimed to determine if HIV infection is an independent risk factor for anemia, neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Methods PWH with undetectable viral replication and absence of chronic hepatitis infection (n = 796) were recruited from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) study and matched uninfected controls from the Copenhagen General Population Study (n = 2388). Hematology was analyzed in venous blood samples. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, alcohol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were performed to determine possible associations between HIV and cytopenias. Results PWH had a higher prevalence of anemia (6.9% vs 3.4%, P <.001), neutropenia (1.3% vs 0.2%, P <.001), and thrombocytopenia (5.5% vs 2.7%, P <.001) compared with uninfected controls. HIV was independently associated with anemia-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–3.0); neutropenia aOR, 6.3 (95% CI, 2.0–19.6); and thrombocytopenia aOR, 2.7 (95% CI, 1.8–4.2). No association was found between HIV and lymphocytopenia. Conclusions Cytopenia is rare in people with well-controlled HIV, but HIV remains a risk factor for anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia and requires ongoing attention and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals have increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI); however, the contribution from smoking and potentiating effects of HIV are controversial. Methods. From the Danish HIV Cohort Study and the Copenhagen General Population Study, we identified 3251 HIV-infected individuals and 13 004 population controls matched on age and gender. Data on MI were obtained from the National Hospital Registry and the National Registry of Causes of Death.We calculated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) for risk of MI and population-attributable fractions (PAF) of MI associated with smoking. Results. In never smokers, HIV was not associated with an increased risk ofMI (aIRR, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], .41-2.54). In previous and current smokers, HIV was associated with a substantially increased risk of MI (aIRR, 1.78; 95% CI, .75-4.24 and aIRR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.71-4.70). The PAF associated with ever smoking (previous or current) was 72% (95% CI, 55%-82%) for HIV-infected individuals and 24% (95% CI, 3%-40%) for population controls. If all current smokers stopped smoking, 42% (95% CI, 21%-57%) and 21% (95% CI, 12%-28%) of all MIs could potentially be avoided in these 2 populations. Conclusions. Smoking is associated with a higher risk of MI in the HIV-infected population than in the general population. Approximately 3 of 4 MIs among HIV-infected individuals are associated with ever smoking compared with only 1 of 4 MIs among population controls. Smoking cessation could potentially prevent more than 40% of MIs among HIV-infected individuals, and smoking cessation should be a primary focus in modern HIV care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among Danish human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, smokers lose more life-years to smoking than to HIV. The excess mortality of smokers is tripled and the population attributable risk of death associated with smoking is doubled among HIV patients compared with the background populationBackground. We assessed mortality attributable to smoking among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Methods. We estimated mortality rates (MRs), mortality rate ratios (MRRs), life expectancies, life-years lost, and population-attributable risk of death associated with smoking and with HIV among current and nonsmoking individuals from a population-based, nationwide HIV cohort and a cohort of matched HIV-negative individuals.Results. A total of 2921 HIV patients and 10 642 controls were followed for 14 281 and 45 122 person-years, respectively. All-cause and non-AIDS-related mortality was substantially increased among smoking compared to nonsmoking HIV patients (MRR, 4.4 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.0–6.7] and 5.3 [95% CI, 3.2–8.8], respectively). Excess MR per 1000 person-years among current vs nonsmokers was 17.6 (95% CI, 13.3–21.9) for HIV patients and 4.8 (95% CI, 3.2–6.4) for controls. A 35-year-old HIV patient had a median life expectancy of 62.6 years (95% CI, 59.9–64.6) for smokers and 78.4 years (95% CI, 70.8–84.0) for nonsmokers; the numbers of life-years lost in association with smoking and HIV were 12.3 (95% CI, 8.1–16.4) and 5.1 (95% CI, 1.6–8.5). The population-attributable risk of death associated with smoking was 61.5% among HIV patients and 34.2% among controls.Conclusions. In a setting where HIV care is well organized and antiretroviral therapy is free of charge, HIV-infected smokers lose more life-years to smoking than to HIV. The excess mortality of smokers is tripled and the population-attributable risk of death associated with smoking is doubled among HIV patients compared to the background population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Weight gain effects of Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors in people with HIV (PWH) have been sparsely studied.Participants were enrolled in the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) study. PWH receiving a backbone of emtricitabine, or lamivudine combined with abacavir, tenofovir disoproxil, or tenofovir alafenamide were analysed. Weight gain according to ART backbone and to the third drug was analysed using a multiple linear regression model. Non-ART risk factors were also determined using multiple linear regression.A total of 591 participants were included in the analysis. The majority were middle-aged, virally suppressed males with a mean BMI just above the normal range. Both tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine or lamivudine and abacavir /emtricitabine or lamivudine, but not tenofovir alafenamide /emtricitabine or lamivudine were associated with weight gain over two years (0.6 kg, p = 0.025; 1.0 kg, p = 0.005). The third drugs associated with weight increase were non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) (p = 0.035), dolutegravir (p = 0.008) and atazanavir (p = 0.040). Non-ART risk factors for gaining weight were low or normal BMI, age <40 years, underweight, inactivity or highly active at baseline.Tenofovir disoproxil and abacavir-based ART regimens were associated with a small weight gain. Third drug NNRTI, dolutegravir and atazanavir were associated with an increase in weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a crucial role in cholesterol metabolism, and high levels of apoE in plasma are associated with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. We aimed to assess if HIV is independently associated with high plasma apoE and to determine HIV-related risk factors for high plasma apoE. We included 661 people with HIV (PWH) from the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV (COCOMO) study with available measurement of plasma apoE. COCOMO participants were frequency matched 1:1 on age and sex with controls from the Copenhagen General Population Study. High plasma apoE was defined as levels above the 90th percentile (66.2 mg/L). The association between HIV and high plasma apoE was assessed using logistic regression models. Among PWH, both linear and logistic regression models were used to determine HIV-specific risk factors for high plasma apoE. Mean age was 52 years and 89 % were male. Median plasma apoE was 49.0 mg/L in PWH and 43.3 mg/L in controls, p < 0.001. HIV was associated with higher plasma apoE after adjusting for potential confounders, including triglycerides (odds ratio 2.14 [95 % CI: 1.39–3.29], p < 0.001). In PWH, higher plasma apoE was associated with a previous AIDS-defining condition in linear models before adjustment for triglycerides and integrase strand transfer inhibitor use in fully adjusted linear models. PWH had higher plasma apoE than controls even after adjusting for triglycerides. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical impact of high plasma apoE in PWH. [Display omitted] • People with HIV had higher plasma apoE levels than controls from the general population. • Plasma apoE was consistently higher in people with HIV when stratifying by triglyceride levels. • People with HIV also had higher apoE/apoB ratio compared to controls. • Thus, the association between HIV status and apoE was independent of changes in other lipid parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]