Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among HIV Patients for Perceived Lipodystrophy

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among some patients who test positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Changes in body-fat distribution can occur in some patients on prolonged highly active antiretroviral therapy. Currently, there are fewer effective treatments for the condition. Patients with lipodystrophy may be turning to CAM. Objective: The objective was to investigate the prevalence and perceived benefit of CAM use for perceived body-shape changes among a cohort of HIV-positive patients. Design/setting/subjects: We surveyed a cross-sectional convenience sample of 74 patients from urban and suburban HIV outpatient clinics in Baltimore, MD, who indicated concerns about body-shape changes. The survey instrument was developed based on validated questionnaires previously used in clinical trials and published work. Results: CAM use including both supplements and visits to CAM providers was 74% in our study population. In multivariate analysis, users of CAM were...