Abnormalities of Body Fat Distribution in HIV-Infected Persons Treated With Antiretroviral Drugs

We prospectively assessed the 1-month prevalence of abnormal body fat distribution in HIV-infected individuals. Of 1,359 patients treated with antiretroviral drugs, 578 (43%) had signs of abnormal fat distribution. Peripheral fat loss was observed in 382 patients (28%), whereas 412 (30%) had signs of fat accumulation. The presence of lipodystrophy (peripheral fat loss with or without fat accumulation) was found to be independently associated with increasing age (less than 35 years of age as a reference group: 35 to 41 years of age, OR = 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1-2.3]; and older than 41 years of age, OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7-3.5]), current use of stavudine (OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.8-3.3]), current use of abacavir (OR = 2.1 [95% CI, 1.3-3.4]), and elevated lactate level (OR = 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4]). The prevalence of lipodystrophy was higher among patients who had received stavudine for a longer period (no stavudine in the current combination as a reference group: <6 months, OR = 1.1 [95% CI, 0.6-1.8]; 6-24 months, OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7-3.5]; and >24 months, OR = 3.2 [95% CI, 2.4-4.3]). This study confirms the association between the use of stavudine and lipodystrophy.