HIV patients undergoing second generation antipsychotics show high cardiovascular disease burden

Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in HIV-positive patients and can be explored with coronary artery calcium score as a biomarker of preclinical coronary disease. Antiretroviral drugs and concomitant treatment including second generation anti-psychotics may contribute to metabolic derangement with potential impact on traditional cardiovascular risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome phenotype. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of second generation anti-psychotics on subclinical cardiovascular disease in HIV positive patients.