Pitavastatin to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in HIV Infection

Obesity among women with HIV

“…Numerous studies from the landmark REPRIEVE Trial of people with low to moderate ASCVD risk randomized to pitavastatin or placebo have recently advanced our understanding of the risk factors and treatment effects of statins among PWH. In the main study results published in 2023, females tended to have a lower cardiovascular event rate compared to males, though the benefit of statin was not significantly different by sex [35 ]. In crosssectional analyses at REPRIEVE baseline, female sex was associated with higher sCD14 overall, with a strong association between increasing reproductive age and greater sCD14; in contrast, obesity was associated with lower sCD14 [36].…”

Pitavastatin for cardiovascular health in patients with HIV infection

“…A recent study with pitavastatin [2] underlines how simple intervention strategies, such as lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), have an impact on cardiovascular disease in a high-risk population as already shown by the SHARP study in patients with chronic kidney disease [3]. Moreover, when the first-line LLT is not tolerated, as in the case of interactions with cART, we can consider the 'new' lipid-lowering drugs, such as PCSK9 inhibition, to reduce LDL-cholesterol and the patient's cardiovascular risk considering that these drugs are well tolerated in contexts of HIV [4,5] and chronic renal failure [6].…”

“…We read with interest the report of Mclaughlin et al [1] titled ‘Cardiovascular health among persons with HIV without existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease’ highlighting opportunities for improving primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in health persons with HIV, especially because a recent trial with pitavastatin showed a positive effect to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with HIV infection [2]. Nowadays, thanks to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), these patients had a good quality of life even if they maintain a high cardiovascular risk [1].…”

Statin Reduces Heart Disease Risk in Patients With HIV

“…The full results published July 23, 2023, show that the trial was stopped after an average 5 years of follow-up. 3 Major cardiovascular events occurred at a rate of 4.81 per 1000 person-years in the pitavastatin group and 7.32 per 1000 person-years in the placebo group.…”