Bone health and HIV disease

February 2008     View PDF     En español

As people living with HIV take HIV drugs over time, a growing list of conditions has become a concern for those who try to manage their overall health. One of these is bone loss, which occurs more often in HIV-positive people. Research has not found the exact cause or causes for this higher rate.

The research and health service communities are trying to find answers to ensuring bone health in people with HIV. We already know a good deal about bone loss, much because of research done in postmenopausal women. Things can be done to improve bone health, and many of those are under the control of the patient.

The loss of bone mineral density, or BMD, can occur anywhere in your body. However, weight-bearing joints and bones are more prone than others including your hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, spine and wrist. This publication will focus on the two most common types of bone loss, osteopenia and osteoporosis, with some information on osteonecrosis.