Sarcopenia and consumptive syndrome in hiv-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in a public hospital in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

We evaluated the prevalence of sarcopenia and wasting syndrome, as well as the associated factors in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. We utilized a cross-sectional study evaluating HIV-infected individuals at a university hospital in the Northeast area of Brazil. In 99 patients, sarcopenia was assessed by analysis of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. Wasting syndrome was assessed by unintentional weight loss criteria. Demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, as well as clinical and lifestyle variables were also evaluated. The prevalence of sarcopenia in this sample was 18.2% and 33.3% presented severe sarcopenia. Wasting syndrome was identified in 13.1% and 4% presented both conditions. Sarcopenia had higher prevalence in older patients (80.0 vs 4.9%, p= 0.004), among those with diabetes mellitus (50.0 vs 16.1%, p= 0.037), as well as among malnourished individuals (p= 0.003). Wasting syndrome was more prevalent in individuals with a lower level of education (26.3%vs5.4%, p= 0.005), in the lower income tertile (p= 0.041), and a lower CD4+ T cell count (429±450 vs 654±321 cells/mm3, p= 0.045). Sarcopenia and wasting syndrome are still clinical problems present in those using antiretroviral therapy associated with specific conditions in HIV patients.