Associations of Muscle Mass, Bone Mineral Density, and Trabecular Bone Score in Chinese HIV-Infected Males

Abstract

Abstract Background The study aimed to investigate the relationship between muscle mass, bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in Chinese HIV-infected males. Methods We designed a retrospective and cross-sectional study of Chinese males with HIV. Muscle mass and BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). TBS iNsight software was used for TBS. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the correlations between bone parameters and muscle mass after adjusting for confounding variables. Results A total of 295 males were included in the study (mean age 36.49 ± 11.16 years). Low muscle mass and abnormal bone microarchitecture were observed in 105/295 (35.6%) and 96/295 (32.5%) patients, respectively. Men with low muscle mass had lower BMDs, T-scores, muscle mass and fat mass at all the evaluated sites, lower Z-score at total hip (TH) and lower percentage fat mass (PFM) than their counterparts. In the multiple linear regression model adjusted for age, BMI, CD4 + cell count, viral load, treatment status and PFM, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was positively correlated with BMDs at lumbar spine (LS) and TH. Conclusions Low muscle mass is more common than low bone mass/ abnormal bone microarchitecture in Chinese HIV-infected males. The reduction of muscle mass was significantly associated with decreased bone mass, particularly at LS and TH.