Cofactors for low serum albumin levels among HIV-infected individuals in Southern India.
OBJECTIVE
Malnutrition and low serum albumin among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals are cofactors for HIV disease progression. The present study aimed to identify the proportion of HIV-infected individuals with low serum albumin and the possible cofactors among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) experienced and HAART naïve individuals.


METHODS
A total of 835 HIV-infected individuals (HAART-experienced, HAART-naïve) were included in the study.


RESULTS
Of the 835 individuals, 44.6% had normal (4.2-5.2 g/dL) and 55.4% had abnormal (<4.2 g/dL) albumin levels. The abnormal group had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) compared with the normal group (P = .02). Among those with abnormal albumin, 388 (84%) were HAART experienced compared with 239 (64%) with normal albumin (P < .001). Among the abnormal group, 259 (55.9%) had CD4 count <200 cells/mL as compared with 124 (33.3%) in the normal group (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
CD4 count and lower were the major cofactors for low serum albumin among HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, serum albumin would be a useful biochemical test for HIV disease in resource-limited settings.
Sundaram
M
M
YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India.
Srinivas
C N
CN
Shankar
E M
EM
Balakrishnan
P
P
Solomon
S
S
Kumarasamy
N
N
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
D012709:Serum Albumin