TY - JOUR
T1 - Body mass index at time of HIV diagnosis
T2 - A strong and independent predictor of survival
AU - Van Der Sande, Marianne A.B.
AU - Shim Van Der Loeff, Maarten F.
AU - Aveika, Akum A.
AU - Sabally, Saihou
AU - Togun, Toyin
AU - Sarge-Njie, Ramu
AU - Alabi, Abraham S.
AU - Jaye, Assan
AU - Corrah, Tumani
AU - Whittle, Hilton C.
PY - 2004/10/1
Y1 - 2004/10/1
N2 - Background: Identification of basic prognostic indicators of HIV infection is essential before widespread antiretroviral therapy can be implemented in low-technology settings. This study assessed how well body mass index (BMI:kg/m2) predicts survival. Methods: BMI within 3 months of HIV diagnosis was obtained from 1657 patients aged ≥15 years, recruited in a seroprevalent clinical cohort in The Gambia since 1992 and followed up at least once. Baseline CD4+ counts and clinical assessment at time of diagnosis were done. Results: The mortality hazard ratio (HR) of those with a baseline BMI <18 compared with those with a baseline BMI ≥18 was 3.4 (95% CI, 3.0-3.9). The median survival time of those presenting with a BMI <16 was 0.8 years, in contrast to a median survival of 8.9 years for those with a baseline BMI ≥22. Baseline BMI <18 remained a highly significant independent predictor of mortality after adjustment for age, sex, co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, tuberculosis, reported wasting at diagnosis, and baseline CD4 + cell count (adjusted HR = 2.5, 95% CI 2.0-3.0). Sensitivity and specificity of baseline BMI <18 was comparable to that of a CD4+ count <200 in predicting mortality within 6 months of diagnosis. Discussion: BMI at diagnosis is a strong, independent predictor of survival in HIV-infected patients in West Africa. In the absence of sophisticated clinical and laboratory support, BMI may also prove a useful guide for deciding when to initiate antiretroviral therapy.
AB - Background: Identification of basic prognostic indicators of HIV infection is essential before widespread antiretroviral therapy can be implemented in low-technology settings. This study assessed how well body mass index (BMI:kg/m2) predicts survival. Methods: BMI within 3 months of HIV diagnosis was obtained from 1657 patients aged ≥15 years, recruited in a seroprevalent clinical cohort in The Gambia since 1992 and followed up at least once. Baseline CD4+ counts and clinical assessment at time of diagnosis were done. Results: The mortality hazard ratio (HR) of those with a baseline BMI <18 compared with those with a baseline BMI ≥18 was 3.4 (95% CI, 3.0-3.9). The median survival time of those presenting with a BMI <16 was 0.8 years, in contrast to a median survival of 8.9 years for those with a baseline BMI ≥22. Baseline BMI <18 remained a highly significant independent predictor of mortality after adjustment for age, sex, co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, tuberculosis, reported wasting at diagnosis, and baseline CD4 + cell count (adjusted HR = 2.5, 95% CI 2.0-3.0). Sensitivity and specificity of baseline BMI <18 was comparable to that of a CD4+ count <200 in predicting mortality within 6 months of diagnosis. Discussion: BMI at diagnosis is a strong, independent predictor of survival in HIV-infected patients in West Africa. In the absence of sophisticated clinical and laboratory support, BMI may also prove a useful guide for deciding when to initiate antiretroviral therapy.
KW - Africa
KW - Body mass index
KW - CD4 count
KW - Cohort
KW - HIV-1
KW - HIV-2
KW - Survival
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U2 - 10.1097/01.qai.0000122708.59121.03
DO - 10.1097/01.qai.0000122708.59121.03
M3 - Article
C2 - 15385737
AN - SCOPUS:4644248545
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 37
SP - 1288
EP - 1294
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
IS - 2
ER -