• Returning to the entire group of 633 enrolled individuals, Wanke also investigated the relationship between the incidence of wasting and the use of HAART.1

• As you can see here, twice as many individuals, 422, had used HAART at some point in time compared to 211 individuals who had never used HAART when they enrolled in the study.

• Of those who had used HAART at some point in time, 17.2% already reported wasting at the time they enrolled. In the remaining group of 328 subjects, 95 met at least one definition of wasting during their participation in the study. When Wanke looked at those individuals who had never used HAART, 41 also met at least one definition of wasting during their participation.

• Not shown here are 64 individuals who were not taking HAART when they entered the study, and who met at least one definition of wasting during their time in the study. Of these, 31 or 48.4% met at least one of these wasting definitions after they started HAART.

• Clearly, these data by Wanke show that HAART has no influence on the development of HIV-associated wasting.

Reference:

1. Wanke C. Weight loss and wasting remain common complications in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31:803-5.