Comparison of calculated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men using the traditional Friedewald and the novel Martin-Hopkins LDL-C equations.
Compared to those without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -infection, those that are HIV-infected are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and to do so at a younger age. This increased risk is due to traditional risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, smoking and dyslipidemia), but also to factors related to HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Using the Martin-Hopkins equation to calculate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is more accurate than the traditional Friedewald equation, especially at higher triglyceride levels, which are more common in HIV-infected people. Thus, using LDL-C values calculated by the Martin-Hopkins equation may improve clinical care of people living with HIV.