Interaction between anaemia and human immuno-deficiency virus infection in an asymptomatic population in South Africa

Anaemia is common and frequent in HIV infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This study was aimed at exploring the interactions between the effects of HIV infection and other related anaemia-causing effects (reductive adaptation, reduced energy/nutrient intake and inflammatory and/or metabolic alterations), which may be responsible for most anaemia in this population. It is postulated that these interactions can heighten the risk levels for anaemia even in an asymptomatic HIV-infected population. The study is based on a secondary analysis of data from the Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans (THUSA) survey, a population-based, cross-sectional study carried out in the North West Province of South Africa. Out of a sample population of 1854 ‘apparently healthy’ adults, aged ≥15 years, 216 (11.8%) were HIV sero-positive. A validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake and standard conditions and protocols used for anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Anaemia was defined using WHO haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) definitions. Univariate ANOVA statistics showed that HIV-sero-positive subjects had lower Hb, Hct, serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) but higher % saturation compared to their sero-negative peers. However, only the differences in Hct were significant (p