Abnormalities in body composition and nutritional status in HIV-infected children and adolescents on antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to compare growth, nutritional status and body composition outcomes between a group of 94 HIV-infected children and adolescents on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 364 healthy controls, and to evaluate their association with clinical and lifestyle variables within the HIV-infected group. When compared with the control group, HIV patients had higher risk of stunting (odds ratio [OR] 5.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.83–10.04) and thinness (OR 4.7, 95% CI: 2.44–9.06), higher waist-to-hip ratios (medians 0.89 versus 0.82 for boys and 0.90 versus 0.77 for girls, P < 0.001), and lower prevalence of overweight or obesity (OR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.78). Protease inhibitor usage was associated with thinness (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.07–11.44) and lipoatrophy (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.37–8.95). HIV-infected children on ART showed significant nutritional status and body composition abnormalities, consistent with the severity of vertical HIV infection and the consequences of prolonged ART.