HIV and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly increased the survival rate of patients with HIV. However, abnormalities of lipid and insulin metabolism have been recognised and there is an increasing prevalence of fat redistribution, frank diabetes and hyperlipidaemia in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART. Several observational studies have described associations between HIV infection, HAART and cardiovascular disease. The management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is expected to play an important role in the treatment of HIV infection.