OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional status of HIV/AIDS patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, according to gender and T CD4 + lymphocyte count. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, including 223 individuals (171 men and 52 women) treated with protease inhibitors, aged between 20 and 59 years. This study was developed at a HIV/AIDS reference treatment center in the city of São Paulo. Anthropometric data, including current weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were collected. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated as the ratio between weight (kg) and the square of the height (m²), according to World Health Organization classification criteria. Patients were divided into three groups according to T CD4+ lymphocyte count: < 200, 201-349, and > 350 (cel/mm³). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 30.5% and of central obesity was 12.6%. Women presented a higher prevalence of overweight (36.5%) and of central obesity (32.7%) when compared to men (28.7% and 6.4% respectively). The prevalence of underweight was higher among women than in men, respectively 7.7% and 2.3%. Categories of T CD4 + lymphocyte counts were not associated with overweight and central obesity in this population. CONCLUSION: Women presented a higher prevalence of underweight, overweight and central obesity in relation to men. Obesity is the most important deviation of nutritional status, overcoming malnutrition, in these HIV/AIDS patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
HIV/AIDS; Antiretroviral therapy; Obesity; Nutritional assessment
