OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and changes in the anthropometric indicators of patients with the human Immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome using the highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: This is a 12-month prospective cohort study of adult males and females who recently started antiretroviral therapy. The anthropometric indicators studied were body mass index, waist circumference and subscapular, biceps and triceps skinfold thicknesses, taken 4 times during the year in 3-month intervals. The variables were described according to medians and 25 and 75 percentiles and analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measurements. RESULTS: The studied population consisted of 53 patients, mostly males (81%) aged 30 to 39 years. Only subscapular skinfold thickness changed significantly over time (T1=13.70 vs T4=16.00, p<0.001), indicating cervical lipohypertrophy (buffalo hump). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, although limited, show the need to monitor anthropometric parameters associated with morphological changes, especially those used in the diagnosis of abdominal and dorsocervical fat accumulation.
Anthropometry; Body fat; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Nutritional status; Lipodystrophy
