Risk factors associated with hypovitaminosis D in HIV/aids-infected adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate risk factors associated with hypovitaminosis D in adult patients infected with HIV/aids, at a referral hospital in Maceió, Brazil.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study involved 125 patients evaluated from April to September 2013 by means of interviews, review of medical records, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The data were analyzed using the SPSS® software, version 17.0; the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and mean levels of vitamin D were determined. The association between hypovitaminosis D and the independent variables was assessed using the Chi-square or the Fisher's exact tests; mean vitamin D concentrations were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The level of significance was set at 5% across tests.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 24%, with a significant association with higher household income (p < 0.05). Higher vitamin D levels were associated with female gender (p < 0.001), no use of sunscreen (p < 0.05), and previous opportunistic infections (p < 0.01). Lower values were associated with the use of antiretroviral medication (p < 0.05), overweight and obesity (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower vitamin D concentrations were significantly associated with well-known risk factors for hypovitaminosis D: use of sunscreen, antiretroviral medication, overweight, and obesity. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in this study, considering values > 20 ng/mL or > 30 ng/mL as vitamin D sufficiency, was lower to that of previous studies with HIV-infected patients, a fact that might be related to the low latitude and high intensity of solar radiation of the location of the present study.
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Juliana Maria Palmeira
JM
Canuto
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Virginia Maria Palmeira
VM
Canuto
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Matheus Henrique Alves
MH
de Lima
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Ana Luiza Costa Silva
AL
de Omena
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Thayná Melo de Lima
TM
Morais
Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Arthur Maia
AM
Paiva
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Erik Trovão
ET
Diniz
Instituto Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
David Joseph Ferreira Tenório
DJ
de Almeida
Centro Universitário Cesmac, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
Sonia Maria Soares
SM
Ferreira
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014807:Vitamin D