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Cofactors for Low Serum Albumin Levels Among HIV-Infected Individuals in Southern India

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India

C.N. Srinivas, MD

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India

E.M. Shankar, PhD

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India

P. Balakrishnan, PhD

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India

S. Solomon, MD

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India

N. Kumarasamy, MD

YRG Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), Voluntary Health Services Campus, Chennai, India, kumarsamy@ yrgcare.org

Background and aims. 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. Methods. A total of 835 HIV-infected individuals (HAART-experienced, HAART-naïve) were included in the study. Results. 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). Conclusions. 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.

Key Words: albumin • CD4 • BMI • HIV • resource-limited settings

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC), Vol. 8, No. 3, 161-164 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1545109708330787


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