Cofactors for low serum albumin levels among HIV-infected individuals in Southern India
Sundaram, M.; Srinivas, C.N.; Shankar, E.M.; Balakrishnan, P.; Solomon, S.; Kumarasamy, N.
Journal of the International Association of Physicians in Aids Care 8(3): 161-164
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1545-1097 PMID: 19176315 DOI: 10.1177/1545109708330787Document Number: 207005
Malnutrition and low serum albumin among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals are cofactors for HIV disease progression. The present study aimed to identify the proportion of HIV-infected individuals with low serum albumin and the possible cofactors among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) experienced and HAART naïve individuals. A total of 835 HIV-infected individuals (HAART-experienced, HAART-naïve) were included in the study. Of the 835 individuals, 44.6% had normal (4.2-5.2 g/dL) and 55.4% had abnormal (<4.2 g/dL) albumin levels. The abnormal group had significantly lower body mass index (BMI) compared with the normal group (P = .02). Among those with abnormal albumin, 388 (84%) were HAART experienced compared with 239 (64%) with normal albumin (P < .001). Among the abnormal group, 259 (55.9%) had CD4 count <200 cells/mL as compared with 124 (33.3%) in the normal group (P < .001). CD4 count and lower were the major cofactors for low serum albumin among HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, serum albumin would be a useful biochemical test for HIV disease in resource-limited settings.