Table 2. Nutritional characteristics of patients hospitalized with AIDS according to the method used to determine weight and height.
| Characteristic | All patients (N = 127) | Method for determining weight and height* | ||
| Measured (n = 98) | Estimated (n = 29) | |||
| Number (%) or median [IQR] | ||||
| Weight loss (%)† | Severe (>20.0) | 44 (35) | 32 (33) | 12 (42) |
| Moderate (10.1–20.0) | 26 (20) | 25 (26) | 1 (3) | |
| Mild (≤10.0) | 21 (17) | 20 (20) | 1 (3) | |
| None | 36 (28) | 21 (21) | 15 (52) | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | <16.00 | 19 (15) | 13 (13) | 6 (21) |
| 16.00–16.99 | 10 (8) | 10 (10) | 0 (0) | |
| 17.00–18.49 | 26 (20) | 19 (19) | 7 (24) | |
| 18.50–24.99 | 68 (54) | 53 (54) | 15 (52) | |
| ≥25.00 | 4 (3) | 3 (3) | 1 (3) | |
| Lean body mass depletion‡ | Severe | 80 (63) | 64 (65) | 16 (55) |
| Mild to moderate | 20 (16) | 13 (13) | 7 (24) | |
| Within normal limits | 27 (21) | 21 (21) | 6 (21) | |
| Body fat mass depletion§ | Severe | 38 (30) | 30 (31) | 8 (28) |
| Mild to moderate | 47 (37) | 39 (40) | 8 (28) | |
| Within normal limits | 42 (33) | 29 (30) | 13 (45) | |
| Albumin (g/dL)¶ | 2.4 [1.8–2.9] | 2.4 [1.8–2.9] | 2.3 [2.1–2.8] | |
| Hemoglobin (mg/dL) | 10.2 [9.1–12.0] | 10.1 [8.7–11.8] | 10.9 [9.2–12.7] | |
Measured = height and weight were directly measured. Estimated = height and weight were estimated [20], [21]. None of the differences between the two groups was statistically significant at α = 0.05.
Percentage of body weight loss was estimated based on the weight at hospital admission and the patient’s self-reported weight of six months prior to current illness.
Lean body mass depletion was estimated using mid-upper arm muscle area with a correction for the bone area. Categories for lean body mass depletion were defined by comparison of the estimator to population norms [26]. Depletion was classified as within normal limits (>15th percentile), mild to moderate depletion (5th–15th percentiles) and severe depletion (<5th percentile).
Body fat mass depletion was estimated using triceps skinfold thickness. Categories for body fat mass depletion were defined by comparison of the estimator to population norms [26]. Depletion was classified as within normal limits (>15th percentile), mild to moderate depletion (5th–15th percentiles) and severe depletion (<5th percentile).
Albumin values were available for 105 patients (82 and 23 with weight and height measured and estimate, respectively).
IQR = interquartile range.