1,209 HIV-positive patients have undergone cardiac procedures at Jayadeva since 2013

As many as 1,209 people living with HIV have been treated for HIV-associated cardiac disease at the State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research since 2013, highlighting the need to integrate cardiovascular care into long-term HIV management.

H.S. Nataraj Setty, associate professor of cardiology at the Institute, who has treated these patients, said the experience had shown that cardiovascular complications could be overlooked if the focus remained only on controlling the infection.

“If we do not actively look for heart disease in people living with HIV, we may miss an important and treatable part of their illness,” Dr. Setty told The Hindu.

With advances in antiretroviral therapy, HIV patients are living longer. This has also brought greater attention to long-term health concerns, including cardiovascular disease.

“Today, we cannot look at HIV only as an infectious disease. We have to look at the whole person, including the heart and blood vessels. Performing cardiac procedures on HIV-positive patients can be challenging and requires careful management. Our experience has been published in national medical journals,” Dr. Setty said.

He said early recognition, appropriate investigations and timely treatment of cardiovascular disease were important components of comprehensive HIV care.

Against this backdrop, the Department of Cardiology, in association with the AIDS Society of India, will organise the HIV and HEART Symposium 2026 on Saturday.

The symposium will bring together specialists from cardiology, HIV medicine, microbiology, vascular surgery and general medicine to discuss the intersection of HIV and cardiovascular disease.

The scientific sessions will cover HIV and cardiovascular disease, cardiac care and surgery in people living with HIV, HIV prevention through PrEP and PEP, antiretroviral therapy and cardiovascular drug interactions, thrombus burden and HIV-associated peripheral arterial disease, among other topics.

Dr. Setty said the aim was not to consider HIV and heart disease as separate issues but to develop a more integrated approach to patient care. “My clinical experience of treating 1,209 patients since 2013 has made it clear that many cardiovascular problems can be recognised earlier when we consciously look for them,” he said.

The symposium, he said, would provide an opportunity for specialists to share clinical experience, research and evidence and discuss ways to improve long-term care for people living with HIV.

“Don’t just treat HIV. Protect the heart of the person living with HIV. The HIV care is no longer only about survival; it is about long-term health, dignity, wellness and quality of life,” Dr. Setty said.

Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil, Narayana Health founder Devi Prasad Shetty and Jayadeva Institute Director B. Dinesh are expected to participate in the symposium.