Dietary intake and counseling, weight maintenance, and the course of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE

To define relationships among dietary intake and counseling, weight maintenance, and the clinical course of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study in an HIV clinic in a county hospital.

SUBJECTS

HIV-infected patients (68 with and 40 without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]) who had a good performance status and no chronic diarrhea were assessed at entry to the study and after 6 months. The following assessments were made: energy and nutrient intake based on 7-day food records, anthropometric measurements, immunologic function as lymphocyte T-cell subpopulations (ratio of CD4 to CD8), and serum cholesterol level. Patients were monitored to determine clinical outcome.

INTERVENTION

All patients received standardized dietary counseling designed to address identified intake deficiencies and maintain body weight.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in energy and nutrient intake, body weight, and clinical outcome (ie, time to AIDS-defining illness and overall survival time).

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Group differences (HIV group vs AIDS group) were sought using chi 2 analyses and Student's t test. A multivariate regression model was used to determined the best predictors of clinical outcome.

RESULTS

At baseline, total energy intake (based on 30 kcal/kg usual body weight) was adequate in both HIV and AIDS patients (101 +/- 4% and 103 +/- 5% [mean +/- standard deviation] of need, respectively). Despite dietary counseling and continued maintenance of energy intake, body weight, serum cholesterol level, and CD4 level progressively decreased. Consequently, saturated fat intake was found to be inversely related (P < .01) to serum cholesterol level. Clinical outcome (after 3.5 years) was associated with baseline ratio of CD4 to CD8 (P < .001), weight (P < .01), and serum cholesterol level (P < .001). Multivariate analysis related ratio of CD4 to CD8 (P < .001) and weight maintenance (P < .001) to favorable outcome in the final model.

APPLICATIONS

Weight loss in patients with HIV infection is independently prognostic of clinical outcome, and development of hypocholesterolemia is not favorable for clinical outcome. Because weight loss progresses despite conventional dietary counseling to identify energy need, interventions earlier in the disease course should be considered along with increased target levels for energy intake.