Nutritional aberration and related morphological disorders among patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Ghana: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND

Metabolic and nutritional abnormalities among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) have been reported due to either their HIV infection, primary malnutrition caused by insufficient intake or consequences of the ART regimen provided. This study investigated the prevalence and patterns of nutritional abnormalities including morphological changes among HIV patients under combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) in the Bia-West District of the Western North Region.

METHODS

We employed a hospital-based retrospective longitudinal design. Records of 180 patients with HIV infection before and after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation were extracted at the Essam Government Hospital. Eligibility criteria included being on treatment without change in regimen for at least one year and without defaulting in scheduled visits. Data extracted included patients' demography, nutritional parameters and medication history. We assessed patients' nutritional characteristics with the subjective global assessment (SGA) tool which includes five components of medical history (weight change, dietary intake, gastrointestinal symptoms, functional capacity & metabolic stress) and two components of physical examination (signs of fat loss and muscle wasting, alterations in fluid balance).

RESULTS

Malnutrition, lipodystrophy and body wasting among HIV patients were 48.3% (36.5-62.4), 43.9% (32.6-57.7) and 33.3% (23.6-46.0) respectively. Incremental percentage trends of malnutrition (stage I- 7.4%, stage II -22.4%, stage III-24.7%) and lipodystrophy (Stage I - 22.2%, Stage II - 48.7%, Stage III - 51.9%) were significantly associated with worsening disease status. Patients on AZT+3TC + NVP combined regimen presented with the highest malnutrition [52.9% (28.5-76.1)], lipodystrophy [64.7% (38.6-84.7)] and loss of muscle mass [47.1% (23.9-71.5)]. Long-term ART use was significantly associated with high malnutrition rate and increasing muscle mass loss .

CONCLUSION

High malnutrition, lipodystrophy and muscle wasting exist in PLHIV on cART in the Bia-West District. These adverse nutritional effects may be modulated by disease severity, ARV medication and duration.