Abstract

Author(s): Tomé da Cunha, Camila1; Erilane Silva Pereira, Danielle1; Xavier do Nascimento, Claudete1; Tokiko Oliveira Tomiya, Marilia1; Soares de Sousa, Bruno1; Oliveira de Medeiros, Bruna2; Queiroz de Oliveira, Luiz Henrique2; Albuquerque Silva, Paola Frassinette de Oliveira1

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is evidenced due to its relation with the promotion of a better quality of life, including in patients with human immunodeficiency virus, attributed mainly to its performance in the immune system.

OBJECTIVES: To verify serum levels of vitamin D and its association with clinical and nutritional factors in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted between May and December 2018, in an infectious disease outpatient clinic in Recife, Brazil with patients aged 18 years and over diagnosed with HIV who had vitamin D levels measured in the last year. Data such as age, gender, time of diagnosis of the infection, antiretroviral medications, comorbidities, and form of virus transmission were collected. For nutritional evaluation, weight, height, body mass index, triceps skinfold, arm circumference and arm circumference were measured. The following biochemical tests were also registered: differentiation cells 4, viral load and lipid profile. For the statistical analysis, the SPSS Program version 13.0 was used. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee for humans, obtaining CAAE No. 76950417.9.0000.52.01.

RESULTS: The sample consisted of 64 patients. Vitamin D insufficiency was found in 35.9% of the participants. According to the body mass index, half of the sample was overweight. While, by the other anthropometric parameters, there were different classifications. Most of the participants had good levels of differentiation 4 cells, viral load and lipid profile within the reference values. There was no significant association between hypovitaminosis D and the independent variables analyzed.

CONCLUSION: It was concluded that vitamin D deficiency in this population may be common, as well as being overweight, showing that malnutrition does not always prevail as a nutritional diagnosis in these patients, especially when they take regular antiretrovirals and are followed up outpatient.