Bone Mineral Content Prediction by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with HIV Infection: Comparison with Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry: A Cross-Sectional Study

A body composition analysis has been used to investigate alterations on body tissues in children and adolescents diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, such as low bone mineral content (BMC). The study aimed to developed equations to estimate the BMC in children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV based on a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a reference method. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV infection. Their body composition was evaluated by BIA and DXA. Linear multiple regression models were constructed to estimate the BMC. Sixty-four children and adolescents aged 8–15 years (12.22 ± 2.13) who were diagnosed with HIV infection participated in the study. The models were substantially correlated with the BMC values, and they explained 82–91% of the BMC, with no differences between DXA and values as estimated by the models. The model with the highest estimate of the BMC (91% of explanation) and the lowest error (SEE of 0.011 kg) included the following variables: body mass, fat mass, total 50 kHz reactance, TCD4 lymphocytes, antiretroviral therapy type, and %TCD4 lymphocytes. The models had a clinically acceptable correlation and low SEE values. The BIA was suitable to estimate the BMC in children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV.