BENGALURU — A quiet revolution in HIV treatment is saving lives, but it's revealing a new frontier in patient care: the human heart. At a national symposium here, cardiologists and HIV specialists sounded an urgent call—cardiovascular health can no longer be an afterthought for people living long-term with HIV.

Key facts

  • Symposium: HIV and Heart Symposium 2026, organized by Sri Jayadeva Institute and AIDS Society of India
  • Expert consensus: Cardiovascular care must be integrated into long-term HIV treatment
  • Notable statistic: Jayadeva Institute has treated over 1,200 HIV patients with cardiac issues since 2013

The Longevity Paradox

Antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition. People are living longer, healthier lives—but that very success brings new challenges. "We also need to focus on cardiovascular health and other long-term complications," said Dr. H.S. Nataraj Setty, associate professor of cardiology at Jayadeva. His words hung in the air, a reminder that medical progress often creates new puzzles even as it solves old ones.

Breaking Down Barriers

Yet integrating cardiac care faces stubborn obstacles. Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty of Narayana Health pointed to a uncomfortable truth: some hospitals remain hesitant to treat HIV patients' heart conditions due to concerns about handling their blood. Against this backdrop, Jayadeva's experience stands out—they've treated more than 1,200 such patients since 2013, proving it can be done safely and effectively.

"Jayadeva has set an example by treating more than 1,200 such patients"
— Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman of Narayana Health

India's Evolving Response

The symposium also traced India's four-decade journey against HIV, from early epidemic controls to today's widespread antiretroviral access. Dr. Ishwar Gilada highlighted how affordable generic medicines helped bridge treatment gaps in resource-limited countries. That same innovative spirit now needs to address the cardiac complications emerging as patients live longer lives.