Abstract
BackgroundLittle evidence exists on the connections between nutrition, diet intake, and quality of life (QoL) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of under-nutrition among PLHIV in Nepal, and identify risk factors and assess correlations with PLHIVs’ QoL and nutritional status.MethodsThis quantitative cross-sectional study used Body Mass Index (BMI) as an indicator for nutritional status, and additional information on opportunistic infections (OIs), CD4 count, and World Health Organization (WHO) clinical staging was collected from medical records. Participants were asked to complete surveys on food security and QoL. Descriptive analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of under nutrition. To assess associations between nutrition status and independent variables, bivariate and multivariate analysis was completed. Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to assess the association between nutritional status and QoL.ResultsOne in five PLHIVs was found to be under nourished (BMI <18.5 kg/m2). Illiteracy, residence in care homes, CD4 cells count <350 cells/mm3, OIs, and illness at WHO clinical stages III and IV were found to be significant predictors of under nutrition. BMI was significantly correlated with three domains of QoL (psychological, social and environmental).ConclusionNutrition interventions should form an integral part of HIV care programs. Understanding the presence of OI, decline in CD4 count, and advancing WHO clinical stages as risk factors can be helpful in preventing under nutrition from developing. Longitudinal research is necessary to further explicate associations between nutritional status and QoL.
Highlights
Per Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (UNAIDS), the number of people newly infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) each year is continuing to decline in most parts of the world
Total participants A total of 340 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were contacted for interviews in the two public antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites in Kathmandu Valley; 120 were approached in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and 220 were approached in Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Control Hospital (STIDH)
Further longitudinal research will be helpful in determining the role of nutritional status in quality of life (QoL), the results of this study suggest that the existing care options for PLHIV do not appear to fully address this issue
Summary
Per Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the number of people newly infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) each year is continuing to decline in most parts of the world. The percentage of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) have increased from around 10 percent in 2006 to. The role of HIV infection on nutrition was identified early in the epidemic [3]. HIV was found to affect nutritional status by increasing energy requirements, reducing food intake, and adversely affecting nutrient absorption and metabolism. Little evidence exists on the connections between nutrition, diet intake, and quality of life (QoL) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of under-nutrition among PLHIV in Nepal, and identify risk factors and assess correlations with PLHIVs’ QoL and nutritional status
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