July 12, 2000
This poster addressed one of our major concerns in this area, namely what impact does body shape changes (BSC) and metabolic abnormalities (MA) have on antiretroviral therapy. Seventy-four individuals with HIV infection (80% male, 15% African-American, 26% Hispanic, 90% on antiretroviral therapy) were surveyed. The results were definitely unsettling with respect to the impact or potential impact of these conditions. 47% reported the presence of four or more BSC. 37% of those with these symptoms (BSC or MA) related that they had changed or stopped antiretroviral therapy because of the BSC. Many of the others (57%) have considered changing/stopping antiretroviral therapy. 78% of all surveyed believed antiretroviral therapy was responsible for the BSC/metabolic abnormalities that they had experienced. Therefore, the reason we need to take lipodystrophy (or BSC, or whatever we should call it) seriously is not because it may lead to an increase in heart attacks in the future, but rather that it is already having an impact on the therapy decisions of people with HIV.