title: The prevalence and determinants of short stature in HIV-infected children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with HIV infection are often reported to be short. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HIV-associated short stature in HIV endemic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained by retrospective review of the electronic medical records. Patients were grouped into various clinical categories. For each category, the proportion of patients with height-for-age Z score of less than -2 standard deviation [SD] and of less than -3 SD was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of short stature (less than -2 SD) was 28.4%. Severe short stature (less than -3 SD) is more likely with percentage of CD4 <15% (odds ratio [OR]: 3.30, confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-7.09, P = .002) and with males (OR: 1.49, CI: 1.19-1.87, P = .001). Severe short stature is more likely with viral load >400 copies/mL (OR 2.64, CI 1.27-5.38, P = .008) and poor adherence (<95%; OR 1.72, CI 1.03-2.05, P = .037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Botswana, short stature affects a quarter of HIV-infected children and severe short stature is associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, severe immunosuppression, and virologic failure.
authors.affiliation: Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Botswana School of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana apsalms@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dipesalema R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Joel
authors.affiliation: Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mabikwa
authors.affiliation: Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makhanda
authors.affiliation: Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana Baylor International Paediatrics AIDS Initiative, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tolle
authors.affiliation: Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana Baylor International Paediatrics AIDS Initiative, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Anabwani
authors.affiliation: Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Syed Faisal
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001827:Body Height; D001902:Botswana; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: CD4; HIV infection; short stature; viral load; virologic failure