When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

HIV in adults

Last reviewed: 2 Mar 2025
Last updated: 14 Mar 2025
14 Mar 2025

Guidelines recommend statins for people living with HIV to prevent cardiovascular events

People living with HIV are at greater risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In order to prevent major cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attacks, guidelines now recommend statin therapy for primary prophylaxis in people over 40 years of age who are living with HIV.

The new recommendations were informed by findings from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported REPRIEVE (Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV) trial, a large randomized controlled trial undertaken in people living with HIV. The trial found that pitavastatin (a moderate-intensity statin) may offset the high risk of cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV by 35%, compared to placebo, after a median follow-up of 5 years.[129] 

As a consequence of this trial, the US Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents with HIV now recommends at least moderate-intensity statin therapy for primary prophylaxis in people 40-75 years of age with HIV who have low to intermediate (<20%) 10-year ASCVD risk estimates. People with HIV who are less than 40 years of age or have a 10-year ASCVD risk estimate ≥20% should be treated as per the general population, based on evidence-based guidelines.[78]

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) also recommends offering statin therapy to people living with HIV over the age of 40 years, regardless of their estimated ASCVD risk or lipid profile. Patients with an estimated 10-year ASCVD risk ≥5% should be prioritized for primary prophylaxis.[130] 

People living with HIV are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease, which may be related to the disease itself and/or the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The global burden has tripled over the past two decades and is responsible for 2.6 million disability-adjusted life years.

See Management: approach

Original source of update

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • fevers and night sweats
  • weight loss
  • skin rashes and post-inflammatory scars
  • oral ulcers, angular cheilitis, oral thrush, or oral hairy leukoplakia
  • diarrhea
  • changes in mental status or neuropsychiatric function
  • recent hospital admissions
  • tuberculosis (TB)
  • medical comorbidities
  • generalized lymphadenopathy
  • genital sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • chronic vaginal candidiasis
  • shingles
  • wasting syndrome
  • headaches
  • Kaposi sarcoma
  • periodontal disease
  • retinal lesions on fundoscopy
  • shortness of breath on exertion, cyanosis on exertion, dry cough, silent chest on auscultation
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • peripheral neuropathy
  • recurrent herpes simplex
  • hepatomegaly or splenomegaly
  • meningeal signs (bacterial or viral meningitis)
Full details

Risk factors

  • unprotected anal intercourse
  • unprotected penile-vaginal sexual intercourse
  • gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • transgender people
  • commercial sex worker
  • people who inject drugs
  • coinfection with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • people living in prisons
  • percutaneous needle stick injury
  • racial and ethnic minorities
  • use of progestin-only injectable contraceptives
  • cosmetic injection procedures
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • fourth-generation antigen/antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  • HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay
  • HIV nucleic acid test
  • CD4 count
  • serum viral load (HIV RNA)
  • drug resistance testing
  • pregnancy test
  • serum hepatitis B serology
  • serum hepatitis C serology
  • hepatitis A serology (IgG)
  • toxoplasma serology (IgG)
  • CBC with differential
  • basic metabolic panel
  • urinalysis
  • liver function tests (LFTs)
  • random or fasting plasma glucose
  • lipid profile
  • human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 testing
  • testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including mpox
Full details

Tests to consider

  • chest x-ray
  • testing for tuberculosis
  • testing for cryptococcosis
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

newly confirmed diagnosis

ONGOING

virologic suppression achieved

virologic or immunologic treatment failure

Contributors

Authors

Chad J. Achenbach, MD, MPH

Professor of Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering

Infectious Diseases

Northwestern Medicine

Feinberg School of Medicine

McCormick School of Engineering

Northwestern University

Evanston and Chicago

IL

Disclosures

CJA declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Chad J. Achenbach would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Richard Rothman, Dr Michael Ehmann, Dr Linda-Gail Bekker, Dr Catherine Orrell, and Dr Lisa Capaldini, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

ME, LGB, and CO declare that they have no competing interests. RR attended a symposium/conference hosted by a funding agency, Gilead HIV FOCUS program, from which he receives research funds. RR pays staff for an implementation/research program grant from Gilead HIV FOCUS for development of HIV testing programs in Emergency Departments. LC is on the speakers' bureau for the following pharmaceutical companies: GlaxoSmithKline, BMS, Merck, Gilead, Roche, Pfizer, Solvay, Lilly, Serrano, and Tibotec.

Peer reviewers

Michael Horberg, MD, MAS, FACP, FIDSA

Associate Medical Director

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group

Oakland

CA

Disclosures

MH declares that he has no competing interests

Roy Gulick, MD

Professor of Medicine

Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases

Weill Cornell Medicine

New York

NY

Disclosures

RG declares that he has no competing interests

Marianne Harris, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor

University of British Columbia

Vancouver

Canada

Disclosures

MH is a member of an advisory board and/or speakers' bureau for Gilead Sciences Canada Inc, Merck Canada Inc, and ViiV Healthcare.

Jeremy Day, BChir, MB

Infectious Disease Physician

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit

Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Disclosures

JD declares that he has no competing interests.

  • HIV in adults images
  • Differentials

    • Infectious mononucleosis
    • Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV)
    • Influenza infection
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • CDC resources for clinicians
    • Guidelines: version 12.1
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    HIV: what is it?

    HIV: testing

    More Patient information
  • Videos

    Venepuncture and phlebotomy: animated demonstration

    More videos
  • padlock-lockedLog in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer