The use of non-invasive imaging modalities for the assessment of skeletal muscle quantity and quality in people with HIV: A narrative review

Background: People with HIV (PWH) are prone to mobility impairments and physical dysfunction, with the loss of skeletal muscle quantity and quality being a major contributor to the dysfunction. Assessment of skeletal muscle is an important component of care for this patient population for early intervention and treatment. The use of non-invasive imaging techniques to evaluate skeletal muscle, such as dual X-ray absorptiometry, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, has increased in popularity in recent years.

Purpose: This narrative review synthesizes the use of these techniques and summarizes the associations between outcomes from these imaging modalities and physical function in PWH.