Nutritional Status in Patients with HIV Infection and Aids in a Tertiary Health Centre in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nutritional status may be an important factor in the prognosis of morbidity and mortality in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-seropositive individuals. HIV-positive individuals are prone to malnutrition due to inadequate dietary intake, especially in under developed countries like Nigeria where 70% of the population is estimated to be living on or below the poverty line. In addition, stigmatization and discrimination results in a lack of support for HIV-positive individuals, ultimately contributing to further reduced food availability and inadequate dietary intake. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional status using laboratory parameters and body mass index (BMI) in HIV-seropositive patients in Zaria, Nigeria. Methodology: Serum total cholesterol, glucose, total protein, albumin, total calcium and phosphorus in a cross sectional study of 150 HIV- positive patients (100 on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and 50 ARV naïve) and 50 controls were assessed. BMI of all the volunteers was calculated. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 15.0.Two-tailed student×s t-test for matched samples, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s linear correlation were employed for the analysis. A p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Significantly lower (p< 0.05) values of serum total cholesterol, glucose, total protein, albumin and BMI were observed among ARV naïve patients. Hypoalbuminaemia was recorded in 30% and 34% of patients on treatment and naïve respectively. Also 20% and 12% of ARV naïve patients had hypocholesterolaemia and hypoglycaemia respectively. Based on BMI, 7% of patients on treatment and 32% of ARV naïve were malnourished. Conclusion: Malnutrition is common among HIV-positive patients in Zaria, Nigeria.