Atazanavir and Cardiovascular Risk Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract

IntroductionPatients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy decreases CVD risk overall, several studies have suggested that certain antiretrovirals, particularly certain protease inhibitors, may be associated with an increased relative risk of CVD. In AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5260 s, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV) was associated with slower atherosclerosis progression compared to ritonavir-boosted darunavir and raltegravir, potentially due to hyperbilirubinemia. Although hyperbilirubinemia may lead to increased rates of treatment discontinuation, it may also contribute to a favorable cardiovascular (CV) profile for ATV. To fully elucidate the effect of ATV on CVD risk among HIV-infected patients, a systematic review of the literature was performed.MethodsA systematic search of the PubMed and Embase databases was conducted on August 26, 2015, using terms to identify papers that discuss ATV, HIV, and CVD. Articles were limited to English-language publications of randomized-controlled or observational studies investigating adult humans. The primary outcome was the incidence of CVD. Articles describing surrogate markers of CVD were also included.ResultsTen studies were included in this qualitative analysis: six reported CVD outcomes, two reported data on atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and two reported outcomes related to endothelial function. The studies reporting the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) among HIV-infected patients showed that ATV (boosted and unboosted) was not associated with an increased risk of acute MI. Other CV endpoints were similarly unaffected by treatment with ATV. Compared with non-ATV-based regimens, ATV had beneficial effects on cIMT progression in the publications identified, with no apparent impact on endothelial function.ConclusionsThis analysis showed that there was no increased risk or occurrence of adverse CV events among HIV-infected patients receiving ATV. Markers of atherosclerosis were improved, suggesting a possible antioxidant effect of ATV, and endothelial function was not affected.FundingBristol-Myers Squibb (article processing charges and medical writing support).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40121-016-0132-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Epidemiology of ischemic heart disease in HIV

“…46 Results from a systematic review of ten studies found that atazanavir use was associated with improved cIMT and no increased risk of cardiovascular events. 47 …”

Cardiovascular outcomes among HIV-infected veterans receiving atazanavir

“…In some studies, treatment with ritonavir-boosted ATV (ATV/r) has been shown to be associated with favorable effects on surrogates of cardiovascular disease, such as carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) progression [ 34 – 37 ] and other functional biomarkers [ 38 – 40 ]. However, the clinical significance of these relative cIMT [e.g.…”

Serum lipid profiles of patients taking efavirenz based antiretroviral regimen compared to ritonavir-boosted atazanavir with an optimized back ground at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…With rapid scale up of ART and the increasing usage of antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV, the need to monitor side effects of these drugs has increased substantially. HIV-infected patients are known to have an increased risk of CVD compared with the general population, with a signi cantly elevated mortality rate from cardiovascular events [10]. Dyslipidemia represents signi cant health care concerns in HIV infected patients due to its direct association with increased CVD risk [11].…”