Leukocyte Count and Coronary Artery Disease Events in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND: People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH) have increased cardiovascular risk.

Higher leukocyte count has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) events in the general population.

It is unknown whether the leukocyte-CAD association also applies to PWH.

METHODS: In a case-control study nested within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we obtained uni- and multivariable odds ratios (OR) for CAD events, based on traditional and HIV-related CAD risk factors, leukocyte count, and confounders previously associated with leukocyte count.

RESULTS: We included 536 cases with a first CAD event (2000–2021; median age, 56 years; 87% male; 84% with suppressed HIV RNA) and 1464 event-free controls.

Cases had higher latest leukocyte count before CAD event than controls (median [interquartile range], 6495 [5300–7995] vs 5900 [4910–7200]; P < .01), but leukocytosis (>11 000/µL) was uncommon (4.3% vs 2.1%; P = .01).

In the highest versus lowest leukocyte quintile at latest time point before CAD event, participants had univariable CAD-OR = 2.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.63–3.15) and multivariable adjusted CAD-OR = 1.59 (1.09–2.30).

For comparison, univariable CAD-OR for dyslipidemia, diabetes, and recent abacavir exposure were 1.58 (1.29–1.93), 2.19 (1.59–3.03), and 1.73 (1.37–2.17), respectively.

Smoking and, to a lesser degree, alcohol and ethnicity attenuated the leukocyte-CAD association.

Leukocytes measured up to 8 years before the event were significantly associated with CAD events.

CONCLUSIONS: PWH in Switzerland with higher leukocyte counts have an independently increased risk of CAD events, to a degree similar to traditional and HIV-related risk factors.