ABSTRACT
Despite the tremendous benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) use on HIV disease progression and survival [1], [2], micro-and macronutrient malnutrition remain strong independent predictors of mortality among HIV-positive individuals in both high and low resource settings [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]. A growing body of evidence suggests that socioeconomic determinants may also adversely impact survival among people living with HIV/AIDS [14], [15]. More recently, our study team found that among HIV-positive individuals receiving ART in Canada, being food insecure and
underweight was independently associated with a 1.94 increased risk of nonaccidental death, compared to being food secure and of normal weight [16]. Poor dietary diversity, a component of food insecurity, has been associated with mortality among ART-naïve individuals in Uganda [17]. These studies suggest that food insecurity warrants prioritization by public health programs and policies for HIV-infected populations.
