The Prevalence and Determinants of Short Stature in HIV-Infected Children

• Published in: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 529 - 533
• Main Authors: Joel, Dipesalema R., Mabikwa, Vincent, Makhanda, Jerry, Tolle, Michael A., Anabwani, Gabriel M., Ahmed, Syed Faisal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2014; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral drugs; Body Height; Botswana; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Classification; Female; Growth Disorders - epidemiology; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infant; Information technology; Male; Medical records; Medical treatment; Medication Adherence; Medicine; Patients; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Treatment compliance; Viral Load; Botswana; virologic failure; short stature; CD4; viral load; HIV infection
• ISSN: 2325-9574; 2325-9582; 2325-9582
• DOI: 10.1177/2325957414531621

Background: Children with HIV infection are often reported to be short. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HIV-associated short stature in HIV endemic setting. Methods: Data were obtained by retrospective review of the electronic medical records. Patients were grouped into various clinical categories. For each category, the proportion of patients with height-for-age Z score of less than −2 standard deviation [SD] and of less than −3 SD was determined. Results: The prevalence of short stature (less than −2 SD) was 28.4%. Severe short stature (less than −3 SD) is more likely with percentage of CD4 <15% (odds ratio [OR]: 3.30, confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-7.09, P = .002) and with males (OR: 1.49, CI: 1.19-1.87, P = .001). Severe short stature is more likely with viral load >400 copies/mL (OR 2.64, CI 1.27-5.38, P = .008) and poor adherence (<95%; OR 1.72, CI 1.03-2.05, P = .037). Conclusion: In Botswana, short stature affects a quarter of HIV-infected children and severe short stature is associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, severe immunosuppression, and virologic failure.