Different profiles among older adults with HIV according to their chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis: The FUNCFRAIL cohort study (GeSIDA 9817)

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 30;17(3):e0266191. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266191. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background: People in their fifties with HIV are considered older adults, but they appear not to be a homogeneous group.

Objective: To evaluate the differences among older adults with HIV according to their chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of the FUNCFRAIL cohort. Patients 50 or over with HIV were included and were stratified by both chronological age and the year of HIV diagnosis: before 1996 (long-term HIV survivors [LTHS]) and after 1996. We recorded sociodemographic data, HIV-related factors, comorbidities, frailty, physical function, other geriatric syndromes, and quality of life (QOL).

Results: We evaluated 801 patients. Of these, 24.7% were women, 47.0% were LTHS, and 14.7% were 65 or over. Of the 65 or over patients, 73% were diagnosed after 1996. Higher rates of comorbidities among LTHS were found, being the more prevalent: COPD, history of cancer, osteoarthritis, depression, and other psychiatric disorders while the more prevalent among the 65 or over patients were: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cancer, and osteoarthritis. LTHS showed a significantly worse QOL. There were no differences by the year of HIV diagnosis regarding frailty and functional impairment (SPPB <10) but they were more than twice as prevalent in the 65 or over patients compared to the other chronological age groups.

Conclusions: A LTHS and a 65 or over person are both "older adults with HIV," but their characteristics and requirements differ markedly. It is mandatory to design specific approaches focused on the real needs of the different profiles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Frailty* / diagnosis
  • Frailty* / epidemiology
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • HIV Infections* / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Osteoarthritis*
  • Quality of Life / psychology

Grants and funding

FUNCFRAIL study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the project PI17/00859 (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund "A way to make Europe"/"Investing in your future") and partially supported by an Investigator Studies Program (MISP) research grant from Merck Sharp &Dohme Corp (IISP57179). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.