Nutritional status of HIV-seropositive subjects in an AIDS clinic in Paris.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence and analyse the characteristics of malnutrition among subjects attending an AIDS outpatient clinic and a day care center, to improve the nutritional management of HIV-infected subjects.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
AIDS clinic in a University Hospital in Paris.


METHODS
124 HIV-seropositive adults attending the clinic.


METHODS
Evaluation of nutritional status using anthropometry, impedancemetry, plasma albumin and pre-albumin assays. Degree of malnutrition, defined by the percentage of body weight loss (BWL), calculated by reference to the usual body weight.


RESULTS
Among the 124 subjects recruited (M:F sex ratio: 3.3, mean age: 36.3 +/- 7.2 y), 77 (62.1%, 95%CI: 53.9-70.3) had normal nutrition status (BWL < or = 5%), 16 (12.9%, 95%CI: 7.0-18.2) moderate malnutrition (5% < BWL < or = 10%), 21 (16.9% 95%CI: 10.3-23.5) intermediate malnutrition (10% < BWL < or = 20%), and 10 (8.1%, 95%CI: 3.3-12.9) severe malnutrition (BWL > 20%). BWL was related to the CDC class (variance analysis, P < 9 x 10(-5)) and CD4 cell count (P < 3 x 10(-5)). Malnutrition was observed even among CDC class A subjects (14.9%). BWL was also related to the body mass index (P < 3 x 10(-6)), lean body mass (P < 3 x 10(-5)), body fat (P < 7 x 10(-6)), and as assessed by impedancemetry, body cell mass (P < 10(-5)) an the extra/intra cellular water ratio (P < 2 x 10(-4)). The decrease in lean body mass was related to the decrease in body cell mass.


CONCLUSIONS
Given its high frequency, malnutrition should be prevented, detected, monitored and treated from the early stages of HIV infection among patients attending AIDS clinics in order to improve survival and quality of life.
Niyongabo
T
T
IMEA/INSERM U13, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
Bouchaud
O
O
Henzel
D
D
Melchior
J C
JC
Samb
B
B
Dazza
M C
MC
Ruggeri
C
C
Begue
J C
JC
Coulaud
J P
JP
Larouzé
B
B
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010297:Paris; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss
D012709:Serum Albumin