The temporal relationship between body composition and cardiometabolic profiles in an HIV-infected (on ART) vs. HIV-free Western Cape study population

DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2024-005

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk is a health concern in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). The current 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 (FMD) were performed. Linear mixed model statistical analyses were applied. HIV+ART vs. HIV-free groups was independently associated with BMI (-4.92 (-7.99 to -1.84), p=0.002) and waist circumference (-10.48 (-17.19 to -3.77), p=0.003). ART duration was associated with BMI (2.60 (0.57 to 4.62), p=0.013), waist circumference (3.83 (0.03 to 7.63), p=0.048) and HDL (20.18 (2.37 to 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.