Abstract: Background: There is an evidence gap regarding the relationship between HIV exposure, body composition (and the quality thereof) and preterm infants.
Aim: This study determined the body composition of HIV-exposed, preterm very low-birthweight (VLBW) and extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants and to assess the effect of maternal HAART duration on the body composition of this vulnerable population.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. HIV-exposed and -unexposed preterm infants (<37 weeks) with a birthweight of ≤1200g were included. Maternal medical background was recorded. Infant body composition measurements were recorded weekly during the 28-day follow-up period.
Results: Thirty preterm infants (27%) were HIV-exposed. HIV-exposed infants had significantly (=0.01) lower gestational ages than HIV-unexposed infants (25-28 weeks). HIV-exposed infants had significantly lower measurements on day 21 and day 28 for triceps skinfold (TSF) (2.5 mm vs 2.7 mm, = 0.02 and 2.6 mm vs 2.9 mm, <0.01), subscapular skinfold (SSSF) (2.3 mm vs 2.6 mm, = 0.02 and 2.4 mm vs 2.7 mm, =<0.01) and fat mass percentage (FM%) (0.9% vs 1.4%, = 0.02 and 1.0% vs 1.5%, = 0.03). HIV-exposed infants whose mothers received HAART for ≥ 20 weeks were heavier and had a higher FM% and lower fat-free mass percentage (FFM%) at birth than HIV-exposed preterm infants whose mothers received highly active antiretroviral therapy for ≥ 4- < 20 weeks.
Conclusion: Mothers receiving HAART could have increased risk of preterm delivery, and the duration of maternal HAART affects postnatal body composition of their infants. Body composition differs between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed preterm infants.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: ANOVA, analysis of variance; ART, antiretroviral therapy; AZT, zidovudine; Body composition; CVD, cardiovascular diseases; DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo; ELBW, extremely low birthweight; FFM%, fat-free mass percentage; FFM, fat-free mass; FM%, fat mass percentage; FM, fat mass; GA, gestational age; HAART duration; HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIC, high-income countries; HIV-exposed; HIV-unexposed; IUGR, intrauterine growth restriction; LBW, low birthweight; LGA, large for gestational age; LMIC, low- and middle-income countries; MCT, medium-chain triglycerides; MTCT, mother-to-child transmission; NCPAP, nasal continuous positive airway pressure; NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; NICU, neonatal Intensive Care Unit; NVP, nevirapine; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PMTCT, prevention of mother-to-child transmission; SAPMTCTE, South African prevention of mother-to-child transmission evaluation; SFT, skinfold thickness; SGA, small for gestational age; SSSF, subscapular skinfold; TAH, Tygerberg Academic Hospital; TBCH, Tygerberg Children’s Hospital; TEA, term equivalent age; TSF, triceps skinfold; USA, United States of America; VLBW, very low birthweight; fat mass; fat-free mass; preterm infant
Processing Request
No Comments.