LAUSR

We read the article “Prevalence, Incidence, and Contributors of Subclinical Atheromatosis, Arteriosclerosis, and Arterial Hypertrophy in HIV-Infected Individuals: A SingleCenter, 3-Year Prospective Study” with interest. Due to advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), life expectancy has increased and atherosclerosis has become a major problem for these patients. Instead of infectious diseases and malignancies caused by HIV, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has become the major cause of mortality. Psichogiou et al showed that HIV-positive individuals free of diabetes, CVD, and CVD symptoms presented a significant burden of subclinical CVD. Ünal et al and Ertem et al reported that the Tp-e interval, Tpe/QT ratio, and atrial electromechanical delay are increased in patients with HIV. These novel markers are predictors of cardiac arrhythmias that can be caused by atherosclerosis. By increasing the life expectancy of patients with HIV, the importance of CVD and any association between the 2 have become very important. Unfortunately, with false information, prejudice, and stigmatization, some patients with HIV are withdrawn from or unwilling to participate in scientific studies. More prospective studies concerning CVD in patients with HIV are needed. Patients should be encouraged to participate in such studies and prejudice and misinformation should be prevented. ORCID iD