New website addresses heart health among HIV patients

In collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Academy of HIV Medicine has launched a new website that will provide HIV-positive individuals with access to information on heart health and resources to manage both the sexually transmitted disease (STD) and their cardiovascular wellness.

The online site, called hivandyourheart.org, features expert advice, personal stories and a wellness checklist, along with confidential programs to help users track the progress of their heart health.

Website sponsors explained that HIV patients may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems due to long-term use of antiretroviral medications or prolonged exposure to the virus.

They also noted that there is an apparent demand for more health information among individuals with HIV. A recent online survey indicated that 68 percent of respondents with the STD said they would be very interested in learning more about how to manage their cardiovascular risk factors.

"The good news, however, is that much of this risk for coronary heart disease is remedial. We have concluded that the development of optimized screening, prediction and treatment algorithms for cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients is crucial and timely," said Robert Eckel of the AHA.