Association between nutritional status and food insecurity in adult HIV patients aged 18 to 60 at María Auxiliadora Hospital, Lima, Peru

Food insecurity (FI) may have significant implications for people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), potentially affecting nutritional status and treatment response. This study aimed to determine the association between food insecurity and the nutritional status of adult HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Lima, Peru. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 222 adult HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months at María Auxiliadora Hospital. Anthropometric measurements and the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale were applied. Chi-square and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze associations. 78.4% of patients lived with FI, with higher prevalence in households without minors (48.2%) versus those with minors (30.2%). A significant association was found between BMI and food insecurity (p=0.023). While 7.2% presented caloric malnutrition and 22.5% protein malnutrition, 50.9% had overweight or obesity. Patients with severe FI had 1.57 times higher malnutrition prevalence, and those in families with >7 members showed 1.54 times greater prevalence. The findings suggest a considerable prevalence of food insecurity in the studied population, with significant associations with nutritional status. These results highlight the importance of considering nutritional and socioeconomic factors in HIV patient care.