A decade-long study by doctors at the State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (SJICR), Bengaluru, has gained international recognition for shedding light on the growing burden of heart disease among people living with HIV (PLHIV).
The findings, presented at the prestigious Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2025 conference held in San Francisco this week, and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), have placed Indian cardiovascular research from a government institute on the global map.
Titled ‘Cardiac Complications in People Living with HIV: Long-Term Insights from an Indian Cohort’, the study represents one of India’s largest long-term investigations into HIV-associated coronary artery disease. Led by H.S. Nataraja Setty, associate professor of Cardiology and head of HIV–Heart Research at SJICR, the research examined data from 910 HIV-positive patients treated and followed up at the institute since 2013.
Persistent cardiovascular risk
The study found that even with effective HIV control through modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the use of advanced drug-eluting stent technologies, cardiovascular risk remains significantly higher among PLHIV compared to HIV-negative individuals.
According to Dr. Setty, HIV-positive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) showed a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. While immediate procedural success rates were similar to those of HIV-negative patients, long-term mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were considerably higher among PLHIV.
“Our findings show that even with effective HIV control and modern stent technology, cardiovascular risk persists,” Dr. Setty said, emphasising the need for early risk identification, targeted prevention, and integrated management strategies for this vulnerable group.
The research was co-authored by L. Sridhar, Nagraj Moorthy, Rahul Patil, Chethan Kumar, Yeriswamy M.C., Srinivasa K.H., Ravindranath K.S., A.C. Nagamani, Natesh B.H., V. Kumaraswamy, Satish K., Ravi Matt, Jayashree Kharge, Subramani K.S., Vijay Kumar, Nishanth, Lachi Karanadh, Rajendra, Veeresh Patil, and B. Dinesh, bringing together a wide team of senior interventional cardiologists and researchers from the institute.
Changing health landscape in HIV
The research underscores a critical shift in the health landscape of HIV. With improved access to ART, people living with HIV are living longer, but are now facing a growing burden of chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease.
“The intersection between infectious diseases and cardiovascular science is becoming increasingly important. Presenting long-term Indian data at a global platform like TCT was a proud moment, offering an opportunity to highlight emerging cardiovascular challenges in HIV care,” Dr. Setty said.
Need for tailored clinical protocols
The study is part of a decade-long registry at SJICR exploring the interplay between HIV infection, metabolic risk factors and coronary atherosclerosis, and calls for the development of HIV-specific cardiovascular protocols. The researchers advocate for multidisciplinary follow-up systems to monitor and manage long-term risks, aiming to improve survival and quality of life among PLHIV.
The findings also point to the need for focused screening and preventive strategies for metabolic disorders in HIV-positive patients, who may face compounded risks from chronic inflammation and drug-related metabolic effects.
Congratulating the research team, SJICR Director B. Dinesh said the recognition at TCT 2025 and publication in JACC mark a significant milestone for Indian cardiology. “This achievement reflects our institute’s commitment to advancing patient-centred research and contributing to global cardiovascular science,” he said.
Published – October 31, 2025 09:35 pm IST
