Influence of Antiretroviral Therapy in the Anthropometric and Biochemical Profile of Persons with HIV/AIDS

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) triggers biochemical changes and in body composition in individuals with HIV who use it. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes caused by the ART in the anthropometric and biochemical profile of persons with HIV/AIDS in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, we conducted an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study on 217 adults with HIV/AIDS (men: 72.4 %; mean age of the studied population: 32.7 ± 8.4; antiretroviral therapy: 33.2 %). The nutritional evaluation was performed by using anthropometric measures and indicators (weight, height, arm circumference, triceps skin fold, body mass index, arm muscle circumference and arm fat area), and biochemical (albumin, total protein, transferrin; creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol and lipoproteins). The test to compare proportions for independent samples and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used. A greater affectation of the perimeter of the waist, waist/hip ratio and HDL-c in women was found, regardless of the therapy. ART caused a significant increase in the perimeter of the waist (Z= -2.317; p= 0.02) waist/hip ratio (Z= -2.266; p= 0.02), total cholesterol (Z= -2.984; p= 0.003), triglycerides (Z= -3.865; p<0.001) and VLDL-c (Z=-3.804; p <0,001); the other evaluated variables did not differ as treated and untreated groups were compared. Men with HIV and ART had a greater risk of morbidity from central adiposity and hyper triglyceridemia. To conclude, it is evident from our study that ART caused alterations in the anthropometric and biochemical profile, mainly in indicators of central adiposity and markers of lipid metabolism in men with HIV.