Osteoporosis, Rather Than Sarcopenia, Is the Predominant Musculoskeletal Disease in a Rural South African Community Where Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevalence Is High: A Cross-Sectional Study
Date
2022-02
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Abstract
The rollout of antiretroviral therapy globally has increased life expectancy across Southern
Africa, where 20.6 million people now live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We
aimed to determine the prevalence of age-related osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and investigate
the association between HIV, bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength and lean mass, and
gait speed. A cross-sectional community-based study of individuals aged 20–80 years in rural
South Africa collected demographic and clinical data, including HIV status, grip strength, gait
speed, body composition, and BMD. Sarcopenia was defined by the European Working Group
on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) guidelines, and osteoporosis as BMD T-score ≤
−2.5 (if age ≥50 years). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 805 black South African
participants was 44.6 ± 14.8 years, 547 (68.2%) were female; 34 (13.2%) were men, and 129
(23.6%) women had HIV, with 88% overall taking anti-retroviral therapy. A femoral neck T-score
≤ −2.5, seen in four of 95 (4.2%) men and 39 of 201 (19.4%) women age ≥50 years, was more
common in women with than without HIV (13/35 [37.1%] versus 26/166 [15.7%]; p = 0.003).
Although no participant had confirmed sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia affected more men than
women (30/258 [11.6%] versus 24/547 [4.4%]; p = .001]. Although appendicular lean mass
(ALM)/height2
index was lower in both men and women with HIV, there were no differences
in grip strength, gait speed, or probable sarcopenia by HIV status. Older age, female sex, lower
ALM/height2
index, slower gait speed, and HIV infection were all independently associated with
lower femoral neck BMD. In conclusion, osteoporosis rather than sarcopenia is the common
musculoskeletal disease of aging in rural South Africa; older women with HIV may experience
greater bone losses than women without HIV. Findings raise concerns over future fracture risk in
Southern Africa, where HIV clinics should consider routine bone health assessment, particularly in
aging women.
Description
Keywords
HIV; BMD; DXA; OSTEOPOROSIS; SARCOPENIA