Background: Children with HIV infection are often reported to be short. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HIV-associated short stature in HIV endemic setting.
Methods: Data were obtained by retrospective review of the electronic medical records. Patients were grouped into various clinical categories. For each category, the proportion of patients with height-for-age Z score of less than -2 standard deviation [SD] and of less than -3 SD was determined.
Results: The prevalence of short stature (less than -2 SD) was 28.4%. Severe short stature (less than -3 SD) is more likely with percentage of CD4 <15% (odds ratio [OR]: 3.30, confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-7.09, P = .002) and with males (OR: 1.49, CI: 1.19-1.87, P = .001). Severe short stature is more likely with viral load >400 copies/mL (OR 2.64, CI 1.27-5.38, P = .008) and poor adherence (<95%; OR 1.72, CI 1.03-2.05, P = .037).
Conclusion: In Botswana, short stature affects a quarter of HIV-infected children and severe short stature is associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, severe immunosuppression, and virologic failure.
Keywords: CD4; HIV infection; short stature; viral load; virologic failure.
© The Author(s) 2014.