1,209 HIV patients treated for heart ailments at Jayadeva since 2013

Bengaluru: The State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research has treated 1,209 people living with HIV for cardiac ailments since 2013, underscoring the growing need to fold cardiovascular screening into long-term HIV management.

H.S. Nataraj Setty, associate professor of cardiology at the institute, said the experience has shown that heart complications can go unnoticed if treatment focuses solely on suppressing the virus. "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," he said.

With antiretroviral therapy extending the lifespans of HIV patients, attention has shifted to long-term health risks, particularly cardiovascular disease. Dr. Setty noted that managing cardiac procedures in HIV-positive patients requires careful planning and that the institute's findings have been published in national medical journals.

To address this intersection, the Department of Cardiology, in association with the AIDS Society of India, will hold the HIV and HEART Symposium 2026 on Saturday. The event will bring together specialists in cardiology, HIV medicine, microbiology, vascular surgery, and general medicine to discuss topics such as HIV-associated cardiovascular disease, PrEP and PEP, drug interactions between antiretroviral and cardiac therapies, and HIV-related peripheral arterial disease.

Dr. Setty stressed the need for an integrated approach rather than treating HIV and heart disease as separate conditions. "Don't just treat HIV. Protect the heart of the person living with HIV. HIV care is no longer only about survival; it is about long-term health, dignity, wellness and quality of life," he said.

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