Increased prevalence, progression to osteoporosis observed in patients with HIV

Bonjoch A. AIDS. 2010; 24: 2827-2833.

New findings indicate an increased prevalence and progression to osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients.

“Our findings support the importance of applying adequate strategies to prevent bone demineralization and of close monitoring of bone mineral density in HIV-infected patients, specifically in at-risk patients who are taking antiretrovirals that affect bone mineralization,” the researchers wrote.

Although low bone mineral density has become an emerging complication in those with HIV, data on the metabolic condition in this patient population are limited.

Therefore, researchers assessed data for 671 patients with at least one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and examined the prevalence and progression of bone mineral density in this population.

Osteopenia and osteoporosis were diagnosed in 47.5% and 23%, respectively. Progression to bone demineralization was observed in 28% of the patients during a median of 2.5 years (12.5% progressed to osteopenia; 15.6% progressed to osteoporosis).

According to the researchers, age (OR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.05–1.08), male gender (OR=2.23; 95% CI, 1.77–2.8), low BMI (OR=1.14; 95% CI, 1.11–1.17), time on protease inhibitor (OR=1.18; 95% CI, 1.12–1.24), time on tenofovir (OR=1.08; 95% CI 1.03–1.14), and current use of protease inhibitors (OR=1.64; 95% CI 1.35–2.04), were associated with bone loss and progression to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

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