Abstract
Background: Increased survival of children with vertically acquired HIV has led to rise in co-morbidities like chronic respiratory disease. We aimed to identify subclinical lung disease in such children by measuring lung function.
Methods: Clinical, anthropometric & spirometric assessments were undertaken in children with HIV aged 5-12y, from Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health. Lung function was expressed in zscores based on newly derived coefficient for Indian children aged 5-12y (Kirkby ERS-2014 abstract) created from GLI-2012 spirometry equations.
Results: Of 95 children assessed, results were available from 65 children (72% boys) after excluding technically unacceptable data & those with TB. 48% were symptomatic & 71% were on ART (Antiretroviral therapy). Children with HIV were shorter & lighter than healthy controls. FEV1 & FVC were significantly lower in children with HIV compared to healthy controls (p<0.0005) (see table). No differences were seen between symptomatic & asymptomatic or ART naive & ART initiated HIV subjects.
Conclusions: The proportionally lower FEV1 & FVC may reflect prior exposure to early insults to the developing lung or a direct consequence of HIV infection.
- © 2014 ERS