The temporal relationship between body composition and cardiometabolic profiles in an HIV-infected (on antiretroviral therapy) versus HIV-free Western Cape study population

Yushra Dinnie, Frans Everson, Festus M Kamau, Ingrid Webster, Boipelo Kgokane, Patrick De Boever, Nandu Goswami, Hans Strijdom

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk is a health concern in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). This longitudinal study (baseline vs 36 months) aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and markers of cardiovascular risk in a South African study population [HIV free, n = 22 vs HIV positive on antiretroviral therapy (HIV+ART), n = 73)]. Health questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, biochemical analyses and flow-mediated dilation were performed. Linear mixedmodel statistical analyses were applied. The HIV+ART vs the HIV-free groups were independently associated with body mass index (BMI) [–4.92 (–7.99 to –1.84), p = 0.002] and waist circumference [–10.5 (–17.2 to –3.77), p = 0.003]. ART duration was associated with BMI [2.60 (0.57–4.62), p = 0.013], waist circumference [3.83 (0.03–7.63), p = 0.048] and highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol [20.18 (2.37–41.09), p = 0.025]. The data showed that intricate relationships existed in this study population between HIV, ART, body composition and cardiometabolic variables. There is a need for more research investigating cardiovascular risk in PLWH, particularly in the context of changes in body composition measures.