Abstract:
Objectives This study aimed to assess the evolution of
body mass index (BMI) of HIV-positive adults on secondline
antiretroviral therapy (ART) over time and factors
affecting it in north-west Ethiopia.
Design An institution-based retrospective follow-up study
was conducted using data extracted from 1016 patient
cards from February 2008 to February 2016.
Setting Eight referral hospitals from Amhara region,
Ethiopia were included.
Participants HIV patients who started second-line ART.
Outcome measures Change in BMI since starting
second-line ART.
Results Five hundred and thirty-eight (52.95%)
participants were males and the median age of the
participants was 33 years (IQR: 28; 39). The median
follow-up time was 18 months (IQR: 5.2; 32.2). The
average change of BMI showed linear increase over time.
The amount of BMI increment or decrement according
to each variable was shown as β coefficients. Treatment
duration (β=0.013, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.022), isoniazid
prophylaxis (β=0.87, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.42), cotrimoxazole
prophylaxis (β=0.63, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.19), ambulatory
functional status (β=−1.16, 95% CI −1.95 to 1.31),
bedridden functional status (β=−1.83, 95% CI −2.47 to
1.21), WHO stage III (β=−0.42, 95% CI −0.65 to 0.20),
WHO stage IV (β=−0.62, 95% CI −1.02 to 0.22), CD4 count
(β=0.001, 95% CI 0.0008 to 0.0015), and time interaction
of variables like tertiary educational status (β=0.02,
95% CI 0.01 to 0.04), ambulatory functional status
(β=0.03, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.05) and WHO stages III (β=0.01,
95% CI 0.007 to 0.02) were found to be significant
predictors.
Conclusion The BMI of patients has shown linear
increment over the treatment time. Factors affecting
it have been identified but its effect on cardiovascular
disease needs further study.
