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The prevalence and determinants of short stature in HIV-infected children

Dipesalema R Joel1, Vincent Mabikwa2, Jerry Makhanda2

  • 1Botswana Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Botswana School of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana apsalms@yahoo.com.

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
|April 23, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Short stature affects over a quarter of children with HIV in Botswana. Severe short stature is linked to poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, low CD4 counts, and high viral loads.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with HIV infection are frequently observed to have short stature.
  • Understanding the prevalence of HIV-associated short stature in endemic regions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of short stature in children with HIV in an endemic setting.
  • To identify factors associated with severe short stature in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of electronic medical records.
  • Categorization of patients based on clinical parameters.
  • Calculation of height-for-age Z scores to define short stature (<-2 SD) and severe short stature (<-3 SD).

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of short stature was 28.4%.
  • Severe short stature was associated with CD4 percentage <15% (OR: 3.30) and male gender (OR: 1.49).
  • Higher viral load (>400 copies/mL) and poor adherence (<95%) were also linked to severe short stature (OR: 2.64 and 1.72, respectively).

Conclusions:

  • Short stature impacts approximately 25% of HIV-infected children in Botswana.
  • Severe short stature is significantly associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy, severe immunosuppression, and virologic failure.
Abstract

Keywords:
CD4HIV infectionshort statureviral loadvirologic failure

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