Background
During childhood and adolescence, there are significant increases in bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD).
Conclusion
Subtotal BMD and subtotal BMC/height were directly associated with physical growth indicators among children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV.
Objective
To investigate physical growth parameters associated with BMD and BMC among children and adolescents diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Design and setting: Cross-sectional study conducted in Florianópolis, Brazil, among 63 children and adolescents (aged 8-15 years) diagnosed with HIV. Method: BMD, BMC and fat percentage z score were evaluated using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Age/height z score and body mass index (BMI)/age z score were obtained in accordance with international recommendations, and bone age was obtained through hand-wrist radiography. Sex, family income, information on HIV infection (T CD4+ lymphocyte count, viral load and type of antiretroviral therapy, moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior) were used as adjustment variables in the analyses. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed, with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.
Results
Subtotal BMD (without the head region) was directly associated with bone age, BMI/age z score and fat percentage z score, even after adjusting for covariates. Subtotal BMC/height was directly associated with bone age, height/age z score, BMI/age z score and fat percentage z score, even after adjusting for covariates.