ISSN 2736-1748
African Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ISSN 2326-2691 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and body mass index (BMI) relationship in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria and the neighbouring states
K. B. Mustapha1*, T. S. Ehianeta2, R. A. Kirim1, F. T. Osungwu3 and D. K. Oladepo4
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Raw Materials Development, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
3National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development Clinic, Abuja, Nigeria.
4Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
Accepted 15 January, 2020
Abstract
This study was set to establish the relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and body mass index (BMI) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the neighbouring states within Nigeria- a representative data for sub-Sahara Africa. The study made use of 3 groupings: 44 healthy individuals, 79 HAART-treated HIV (human immuno deficiency syndrome) infected individuals and 21 non-HAART treated HIV-infected individuals from a pool of 402 subjects and age, weight and height were documented and statistically analyzed (Graph Pad, Prism 3). The result showed that significant weight loss was typified by low BMI values (<20) presented in non-HAART HIV-infected subjects. The trend of BMI cum weight loss in HIV infected subjects follows the order: non-HAART PLWHA > HAART treated PLWHA > healthy subjects. It was found that weight loss and consequently low BMI is not gender-dependent in HAART and non-HAART subjects.
Key words: Body mass index (BMI), highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).