O uso de diferentes métodos para a avaliação da composição corporal em indivíduos com AIDS

Abstract

Introduction: The HIV/AIDS is a pandemic that grows in alarming numbers each year. With the Antiretroviral Therapy (TARV), the infected individuals began to have a longer life and an improvement of their quality of life, however, it was observed that among patients that used TARV there was a larger number of metabolic alterations, such as dyslipidemias, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and redistribution of body fat. Several studies seek to investigate these alterations. Based on these studies, it is noticed that the use of anthropometry in the monitoring of the alterations in the body composition of the individuals, especially in the redistribution of the body fat, has a high correspondence with the more sophisticated laboratory methods. However, the use of different anatomic points for the determination of the skinfolds to be measured and the lack of standardization in the use of anthropometric techniques makes the comparison of the studies and their reproducibility difficult, and also, there are questions regarding the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in the monitoring of the body fat alterations of this population. Objective: Analyze the use of different methods for the evaluation of body composition [anthropometric method standardized by ISAK and BIA (BF-906)] in individuals with AIDS comparing them with the reference method (ultrasonography). Method: 15 voluntaries with HIV were investigated, recruited in the support group for people with HIV/AIDS of the Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (HUSM) in the months from June to August of 2009. Evaluations of body fat were performed through the use of anthropometry, following the international standard of ISAK, and the use of prediction equations and the sum of skinfolds and through BIA, comparing them with the ultrasonographic golden standard. Results: Positive and statistically significant correlations were found between the sum of skinfolds obtained through anthropometry –ISAK and the sum of subcutaneous fat obtained through ultrasonography (sum of total subcutaneous fat r=0,95; sum of peripheral subcutaneous fat r=0,91; and sum of central subcutaneous fat r=0,96). The correlation was also positive and statistically significant between the values of total subcutaneous fat, obtained through ultrasonography and the %G predicted from the skinfolds measured with the use of the skinfold caliper (Anthropometry – ISAK) (r = 0,91) and between the values of total subcutaneous fat obtained through the ultrasonography and the values of %G obtained through BIA (r = 0,88). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the anthropometric method standardized by ISAK and the BIA (BF-906) method can be used in individuals with HIV/AIDS in an effective way for the evaluation of the body composition.