The impact of food insecurity on nutritional status and disease progression in people living with HIV/AIDS in southeast Texas

The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of food insecurity on nutritional status and disease progression in people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Texas. Participants (N = 54) consisted of client volunteers from Triangle AIDS Network, a local non-profit HIV/AIDS clinic. Food insecurity was measured using the USDA food security status questionnaire. Indicators of nutritional status and disease progression, as well as demographic information, were obtained from the clients' medical records. Sixty-one percent (n = 33) of participants were classified as food insecure. Mean albumin levels were significantly higher in the food secure group (4.1 vs. 3.7) (p = 0.006), as compared to the food insecure group. Mean CD4 cell counts (578 vs. 409) (p = 0.042) were also higher in the food secure participants. Study findings suggest that food insecure people living with HIV/AIDS may be at risk for poorer nutritional status and more rapid disease progression than those who are food secure.