Bone mineral density changes among people living with HIV who have started with TDF-containing regimen: A five-year prospective study.

There are limited data regarding long-term BMD changes over time among treatment-naïve people living with HIV (PLHIV) after initiating combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Asia. We aimed to study bone mineral density (BMD) changes among treatment-naïve PLHIV started treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)- or non-TDF-containing regimen and HIV-uninfected controls in an Asian setting. The study was a five-year prospective study. BMD at lumbar spine (LS) (L1 to L4), total hip (TH), and femoral neck (FN) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans at baseline, months 12, 24 and 60. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with mean BMD ≥5% reduction after 5 years of cART. A total of 106 PLHIV (75 and 31 started TDF- and non-TDF-containing regimen, respectively) and 66 HIV-uninfected individuals were enrolled. The mean percent changes of BMD were significantly different longitudinally between TDF and non-TDF users (p<0.001 for LS, p = 0.006 for TH and p = 0.02 for FN). HIV-positive status and on TDF-containing regimen was independently associated with BMD loss ≥5% at month 60 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.0, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 2.3-21.0, P = 0.001 for LS; aOR 4.9, 95%CI 1.7-14.3, P = 0.003 for TH and aOR 4.3, 95%CI 1.6-11.2, P = 0.003 for FN) compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. In a multivariate model for PLHIV only, TDF use (vs. non-TDF, P = 0.005) and pre-treatment CD4+ count <350 cells/mm3 (vs. ≥350 cells/mm3, P = 0.02) were independently associated with ≥5% BMD loss in TH at month 60. Treatment-naïve PLHIV initiating treatment with TDF-containing regimen have higher BMD loss in a Thai cohort. TDF use and low pre-treatment CD4 count were independently associated with BMD loss at month 60 at TH. Earlier treatment initiation and interventions to prevent bone loss could improve skeletal health among PLHIV. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01634607.

Antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected patients had lower bone formation markers than HIV-uninfected adults.

There are limited studies regarding bone health among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Asia. We compared bone mineral density (BMD), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status and bone turnover markers (serum procollagen type1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type1 collagen) among 302 antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive PLHIV compared to 269 HIV-uninfected controls from Thailand. People aged ≥30 years, with and without HIV infection (free of diabetes, hypertension, and active opportunistic infection) were enrolled. BMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck were measured using Hologic DXA at baseline and at 5 years. We analyzed BMD, serum 25(OH)D levels, and bone turnover markers at the patients' baseline visit. PLHIV were 1.5 years younger and had lower BMI. PLHIV had higher mean serum 25(OH)D level and similar BMD to the controls. Interestingly, PLHIV had significantly lower bone formation (serum P1NP and OC), particularly those with low CD4 count. Only a few participants had low bone mass. ARV naïve middle-aged PLHIV did not have lower BMD or lower vitamin D levels compared to the controls. However, PLHIV had lower bone formation markers, particularly those with low CD4 count. This finding supports the benefit of early ART.