ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN HIV PATIENTS: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

INTRODUCTION: People living with HIV (PLHIV) exhibit an increased incidence of conditions like osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures. This integrative literature review aims to identify and analyze the risk factors contributing to reduced bone mass in PLHIV. METHODOLOGY: A collection of 26 articles published between 2017-2022, sourced from the PubMed and Virtual Health Library databases, was employed for this purpose. RESULTS: ART usage leads to escalated bone loss, particularly during the initial two years of treatment initiation. Additional risk factors associated with diminished BMD include: low body mass index; reduced lean and adipose body mass; metabolic syndrome; physical inactivity and low-intensity physical activity; co-infection with the hepatitis C virus; substance usage; smoking; alcohol consumption; advanced age; female gender; hypovitaminosis D, hyperparathyroidism resulting from hypovitaminosis D; hypogonadism and fragility fractures. Conversely, no significant correlations were observed with CD4+ T cell counts, viral load, corticosteroid use, or insufficient intake of calcium and dairy products. CONCLUSION: Individuals carrying the HIV virus are at an elevated risk of experiencing low BMD, primarily due to the impact of ART. The identification and analysis of risk factors for reduced BMD could contribute to more effective approaches for clinical intervention and preventative measures for PLHIV.