The relationship between body composition and knee structure in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract Background: Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. Highly active antiretroviral therapy?treated HIV-infected patients are frequently affected by overweight and obesity, and may be at increased risk of osteoarthritis. BMI however is a measure which does not discriminate adipose from non-adipose body mass, or fat distribution, which may have different effects. Objective: This study aimed to examine relationships between body composition and knee cartilage volume, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in HIV infection. Methods: 35 HAART-treated HIV-infected men aged 51.7 years (mean) 7.9 (SD) and 18 healthy men aged 49.5 years (mean) 6.4 (SD) participated. Cartilage volume was measured on magnetic resonance imaging of the dominant knee using validated methods. Body composition was measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Results: HIV-infected participants had less total body and gynoid fat (kg) (p?0.04 and p?0.007, respectively) and more percent android fat mass and percent trunk fat mass (p?0.001 and p