NAPWA

Johns Hopkins University researchers in the US have noticed that PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. in an observational cohortIn epidemiology, a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of clinical trial which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. who took a statin as well as their antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. were less likely to die than those who didn’t.

Out of 1538 PLHIV, 238 (15.5%) took a statin along with their HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together. and by the end of the study there were 85 deaths (seven in statin users and 78 in non-users).

After adjusting for CD4, viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma., haemoglobin and cholesterolAn essential component of cell membranes and nerve fibre insulation, cholesterol is important for the metabolism and transport of fatty acids and the production of hormones and Vitamin D. Cholesterol is manufactured by the liver, and is also present in certain foods. High blood cholesterol levels have been linked to heart disease and may be a side effect of some anti-HIV medications. levels at the start of HAART, age, race, HIV risk group, prior use of ART, year of HAART start, NNRTI vs. PIA type of anti-HIV drug that works by preventing the production of an enzyme, protease, that HIV needs to replicate.-based ART, prior AIDS defining illness, and viral hepatitis coinfection, they calculated that statin use was associated with a relative hazard of 0.33. In other words, you had 30% less chance of dying if you were taking one.

As well as controlling cholesterol, statins have anti-inflammatory and cellular immunological effects and this could account for the results.

If additional observational data support this finding, the researchers argue, a randomisedA method based on chance by which study participants are assigned to a treatment group. Randomization minimizes the differences among groups by equally distributing people with particular characteristics among all the trial arms. The researchers do not know which treatment is better. From what is known at the time, any one of the treatments chosen could be of benefit to the participant clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trial would be warranted to confirm the association.