Association between bilirubin, atazanavir, and cardiovascular disease events among people living with HIV across the US.

OBJECTIVE Bilirubin is an antioxidant that may suppress lipid oxidation. Elevated bilirubin is associated with decreased cardiovascular events in HIV-uninfected populations. We examined these associations in people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS Potential myocardial infarctions (MI) and strokes were centrally adjudicated. We examined MI types: Type 1 MI (T1MI) from atherosclerotic plaque instability and Type 2 MI (T2MI) in the setting of oxygen demand/supply mismatch such as sepsis.We used multivariable Cox regression analyses to determine associations between total bilirubin levels and outcomes adjusting for traditional and HIV-specific risk factors. To minimize confounding by hepatobiliary disease we conducted analyses limited to bilirubin values<2.1 mg/dl; among those with Fibrosis-4 values<3.25; and among everyone. We repeated analyses stratified by hepatitis C status and time-updated atazanavir use. RESULTS Among 25,816 PLWH, there were 392 T1MI and 356 T2MI during follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for the association of higher bilirubin levels with T1MI were not significant. Higher bilirubin levels were associated with T2MI. In contrast, among PLWH on atazanavir, higher bilirubin levels were associated with fewer T2MI (HR 0.56:0.33-1.00). Higher bilirubin levels among those on atazanavir were associated with fewer T1MI combined with ischemic stroke. LIMITATIONS Analyses were conducted with total rather than unconjugated bilirubin. CONCLUSION Among PLWH, higher bilirubin levels were associated with T2MI among some subgroups. However, among those on atazanavir, there was a protective association between bilirubin and T2MI. These findings demonstrate different associations between outcomes and elevated bilirubin due to diverse causes and the importance of distinguishing MI types.

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