The merging burden of HIV infection and stroke in the developing world

According to the WHO, at the end of 2014, the majority of the approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS resided in low- to middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa.1 The same report indicated that cases in sub-Saharan Africa account for almost 70% of the global total of new HIV infections.1 The burden of stroke in developing countries parallels that of HIV/AIDS. Approximately 80% of people who have had a stroke live in low- to middle-income nations.2 Over the past 4 decades, stroke incidence in these countries has increased by more than 100%.3 In developing nations, HIV/AIDS and stroke are not mutually exclusive. Growing evidence suggests that HIV infection independently increases the risk for stroke.4,5 Given the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV infection may be the cause for a measureable subset of strokes in this region. However, incomplete disease surveillance and record-keeping make studying the relationship between HIV/AIDS and stroke difficult, especially in low-income nations.
Source: Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Stroke in young adults, HIV, All Cerebrovascular disease/Stroke EDITORIALS Source Type: research