Abstract
Objective: To assess the association of HIV infection with body weight and composition in Rwandan women. Design: Body weight and composition, the latter determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and by anthropometry, were compared in 620 HIV-positive and 211 HIV-negative participants. Associations of HIV with body composition were assessed, and t tests compared the groups. Results: HIV-positive women were younger (-7.0 years, P < .001) and shorter (-2.1 cm, P < .001). Mean body weight, body mass index (BMI), total body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were similar. Mean fat-free mass was 2.5% greater in HIV-negative participants, and 19% of HIV-positive group had BMI <18.5 kg/m2 versus 26% of the HIV-negative group (P < .05). CD4 counts and body composition were not associated. Conclusions: Malnutrition was common in this cohort of Rwandan women. However, HIV infection was not associated with nutritional status. Factors other than malnutrition may influence quality-of-life outcomes in HIV-infected Rwandan women. Initiatives to improve nutritional status should be population-wide and not restricted to the HIV-infected population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 173-178 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Body composition
- Fat distribution
- HIV
- Malnutrition
- Rwanda
- Women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases