Exploratory assessment of nutrient-related food-frequency proxy measures among people with HIV by secondary chronic condition status.

BACKGROUND

As people living with HIV live longer, secondary chronic conditions are increasingly common. Although nutrition important in HIV care, limited data describe nutrient-related dietary patterns among people with HIV and specific chronic conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct an exploratory assessment of researcher-developed nutrient-related food-frequency proxy measures among people with HIV by secondary chronic condition status.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 64 people with HIV receiving services from community-based organizations in St. Joseph County, Indiana (n = 36), and Washington, DC (n = 28). Dietary information was assessed using selected items from the National Institutes of Health Diet History Questionnaire. Proxy measures for selected nutrient-related dietary exposures were derived using a researcher-developed scoring approach and expressed as percent Daily Value (%DV). Non-parametric tests compared demographic characteristics and proxy measures by secondary chronic condition status and type.

RESULTS

Participants with secondary chronic conditions had higher reported healthcare access (p = 0.025) and perceived relevance of nutrition (p = 0.036). The composite %DV-based relative intake score did not differ by condition status. Participants with cancer-related conditions had lower vitamin D-related (p = 0.039) and calcium-related proxy scores (p = 0.037) than participants without secondary chronic conditions, lower calcium-related scores than those with non-cancer conditions (p = 0.024), and lower vitamin C-related scores than those with cardiometabolic conditions (p = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary findings suggest possible differences in selected nutrient-related food-frequency proxy measures across chronic condition subgroups. Because key clinical and socioeconomic factors were not assessed, observed differences cannot be attributed to comorbidity status. Larger studies using validated dietary assessment methods, biomarkers, and comprehensive HIV-related clinical measures are needed.