Muscle mass loss measured with portable ultrasound in hospitalized older adults: The ECOSARC study.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to analyze the evolution of muscle of the Quadriceps Rectus Femoris (QRF) between admission and discharge, in older adults hospitalized with an acute medical disease in Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs). DESIGN: Prospective multicentric observational cohort study. SETTING: Seven AGUs from University Hospitals in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized adults ≥ 70 years old, able to ambulate and without severe dementia. MEASUREMENTS: Ultrasound measurements of QRF were acquired at 2/3 distal between anterior-superior iliac spine and patella in both legs by trained Geriatricians. Ultrasound Chison model ECO2 was used. QRF area, thickness, edema, echogenicity, and fasciculations were measured. RESULTS: From the complete sample (n = 143), in 45 (31.5%) participants, ultrasound images were classified as non-valid by an expert radiologist. Mean age was 87.8 (SD 5.4). Mean hospital stay 7.6 days (SD 4.3). From those with valid images, 36 (49.3%), 2 (2.7%), and 35 (47.9%) presented a decrease, equal values, or an increase in QRF area from baseline to discharge, respectively, and 37 (50.0%), 2 (2.7%), and 35 (47.3%) presented a decrease, equal values, or an increase in QRF thickness, respectively. 26 (35.6%) presented a decrease in more than 0.2 cm2 of QRF area, and 23 (31.1%) a decrease in more than 0.1 cm of QRF thickness. Only 4 (5.4%) patients presented new edema, while 13 (17.6%) worsened echogenicity. CONCLUSION: One third of older adults develop significant muscle loss during a hospitalization for acute medical diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05113758.

Predictive model for a second hip fracture occurrence using natural language processing and machine learning on electronic health records.

Hip fractures (HFx) are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality rates, leading to a significant reduction in life quality and in limitation of patient´s mobility. The present study aimed to obtain real-world evidence on the clinical characteristics of patients with an initial and a second hip fracture (HFx) and develop a predictive model for second HFx using artificial intelligence. Electronic health records from one hospital centre in Spain from January 2011 to December 2019 were analysed using EHRead® technology, based on natural language processing and machine learning. A total of 1,960 patients with HFx were finally included during the study period after meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria. From this total, 1835 (93.6%) patients were included in the HFx subgroup, while 124 (6.4%) were admitted to the second HFx (2HFx) subgroup. The mean age of the participants was 84 years and 75.5% were female. Most of comorbidities were more frequently identified in the HFx group, including hypertension (72.0% vs. 67.2%), cognitive impairment (33.0% vs. 31.2%), diabetes mellitus (28.7% vs. 24.8%), heart failure (27.6% vs. 22.4%) and chronic kidney disease (26.9% vs. 16.0%). Based on clinical criteria, 26 features were selected as potential prediction factors. From there, 16 demographics and clinical characteristics such as comorbidities, medications, measures of disabilities for ambulation and type of refracture were selected for development of a competitive risk model. Specifically, those predictors with different associated risk ratios, sorted from higher to lower risk relevance were visual deficit, malnutrition, walking assistance, hypothyroidism, female sex, osteoporosis treatment, pertrochanteric fracture, dementia, age at index, osteoporosis, renal failure, stroke, COPD, heart disease, anaemia, and asthma. This model showed good performance (dependent AUC: 0.69; apparent performance: 0.75) and could help the identification of patients with higher risk of developing a second HFx, allowing preventive measures. This study expands the current available information of HFx patients in Spain and identifies factors that exhibit potential in predicting a second HFx among older patients.

Comparison of the Fecal Bacteriome of HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Older Adults.

HIV infection is considered a scenario of accelerated aging. Previous studies have suggested a link between aging, frailty, and gut dysbiosis, but there is a knowledge gap regarding the HIV population. Our objective was to compare the fecal bacteriome of older people with HIV (PWH) and non-HIV controls, and to assess potential links between gut dysbiosis and frailty. A total of 36 fecal samples (24 from PWH and 12 from non-HIV controls) were submitted to a metataxonomic analysis targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. High-quality reads were assembled and classified into operational taxonomic units. Alpha diversity, assessed using the Shannon index, was higher in the control group than in the HIV group (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of the genus Blautia was higher in the HIV group (p < 0.001). The presence of Blautia was also higher in PWH with depression (p = 0.004), whereas the opposite was observed for the genus Bifidobacterium (p = 0.004). Our study shows shifts in the composition of the PWH bacteriome when compared to that of healthy controls. To our knowledge, this is the first study suggesting a potential link between depression and gut dysbiosis in the HIV population.

Characterization of data-driven geriatric syndrome clusters in older people with HIV: a Mexican multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: As living with HIV has been proposed as a condition that may accelerate aging, the main objective of this work was to estimate the prevalence of geriatric syndromes (GS) among older Mexicans with HIV dwelling in the community. Secondly, to evaluate whether the accumulation of GS could be associated with an adverse HIV-related clinical profile, independent of chronological age. Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional study including 501 community-dwelling people aged ≥50 years with HIV. The overall prevalence of nine selected GS and their cumulative number were estimated. An Age-Independent Cumulative Geriatric Syndromes scale (AICGSs) was constructed, and correlations between the AICGSs and HIV-related parameters assessed. Finally, k-mean clustering analyses were performed to test the secondary objective. Findings: Median age 56 (IQR: 53-61) years, 81.6% of men. Polypharmacy (74.8%), sensorial deficit (71.2%), cognitive impairment (53.6%), physical disability (41.9%), pre-frailty (27.9%), and falls (29.7%), were the more prevalent GS. A significant negative correlation was found between the AICGSs and normalized values of CD4+ nadir cell counts (r = -0.126; 95%: CI: -0.223 to -0.026, p < 0.05). Similarly, a significant inverse adjusted association between the CD4+ nadir cells and the AICGSs was observed on linear regression analysis (ß -0.058; 95%: CI: -0.109 to -0.007, p = 0.03). Cluster analysis identified three differentiated groups varying by age, metabolic comorbidities, AICGSs, and HIV-related parameters. Interpretation: An elevated prevalence of GS was observed in the studied population. Moreover, the accumulation of GS was associated with adverse HIV-related profiles, independent of age. Thus, early detection and management of GS are crucial to promote healthier aging trajectories in people with HIV. Funding: This work was funded in part by the National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS in Mexico (CENSIDA)-National Ministry of Health.

"SARCOPENIA MEASURED BY ULTRASOUND IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS" (ECOSARC): multi-centre, prospective observational study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of muscle mass and function, and thereafter, screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia, is a challenge and a need in hospitalized older adults. However, it is difficult in complex real-world old patients, because usually they are unable to collaborate with clinical, functional, and imaging testing. Ultrasound measurement of quadriceps rectus femoris (QRF) provides a non-invasive, real-time assessment of muscle quantity and quality, and is highly acceptable to participants with excellent inter-rater and intra-rater variability. However, normative data, protocol standardization, and association with longitudinal outcomes, needs further research and consensus. METHODS: Prospective exploratory multicenter study in older adults admitted to Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs) for medical reasons. 157 subjects from 7 AGUs of Spain were recruited between May 2019 and January 2022. Muscle ultrasound measurements of the anterior vastus of the QRF were acquired on admission and on discharge, using a previously validated protocol, using a Chieson model ECO2 ultrasound system (Chieson Medical Technologies, Co. Ltd, Wimxu District Wuxi, Jiangsu, China). Measurements included the cross-sectional area, muscle thickness in longitudinal view, intramuscular central tendon thickness, echogenicity, and the presence or absence of edema and fasciculations. Functional, nutritional, and DXA measurements were provided. Clinical follow-up was completed at discharge, and 30 and 90 days after discharge. Variations between hospital admission and discharge ultrasound values, and the relationship with clinical variables, will be analyzed using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, or Mc Nemar chi-square tests when necessary. Prevalence of sarcopenia will be calculated, as well as sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound measurements to determine sarcopenia. Kappa analysis will be used to analyze the concordance between measurements, and sensitivity analysis will be conducted for each participating center. DISCUSSION: The results obtained will be of great interest to the scientific geriatric community to assess the utility and validity of ultrasound measurements for the detection and follow-up of sarcopenia in hospitalized older adults, and its association with adverse outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05113758. Registration date: November 9th 2021. Retrospectively registered.

An exploratory prospective study of the factors associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults living with HIV. / Estudio exploratorio prospectivo de los factores asociados a eventos adversos en salud en personas mayores que viven con VIH.

Objective: This study examines the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with adverse health outcomes (falls, emergency room visits, hospital admissions and death) in a cohort of patients older than 55 years with HIV infection. Methods: It is an exploratory prospective study with four years follow-up. People with HIV infection followed in the infectious diseases consultation unit of two hospitals in Madrid were included. Sociodemographic data and clinical variables were collected. The functional, mental, and social situations of the participants were assessed. Patient clinical histories were reviewed to gather data on the number of falls, visits to emergency departments and hospital admissions during the period studied. Results: One hundred seventeen patients with a mean age of 61,4 (SD 6,6) years and a median follow-up of 47 months(35 to 50) were included. Of these subjects, 25% had depressive symptoms, and 10% had some degree of cognitive impairment at the baseline visit. The recorded frequencies were: falls 7,7%, visits to the emergency room 53%, hospital admission 33,3% and deaths 2,6%. Depressive symptoms were associated with falls and emergency room visits in the univariate analysis. The factors associated with hospital admission were having acquired the infection through intravenous drug use, frailty and being under 65 years of age. Multivariate analysis was conducted for the hospital admissions outcome, with the variables showing p < 0,07 in the univariate analysis, none of which reached statistical significance. Conclusions: Depression screening and cognitive evaluation should be done systematically in this population group. More studies with more patients and longer follow-up times are necessary.

Introducción: Gracias al tratamiento antirretroviral en Occidente, la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se ha convertido en una enfermedad crónica. Hoy, el 50% de las personas que viven con VIH son mayores de 50 años y en torno al 20% de los nuevos casos de esta infección se dan en ese mismo grupo etario. Este trabajo tiene por objeto el analizar los factores clínicos y sociodemográficos asociados a eventos adversos en salud (caídas, visitas a urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muerte) en una cohorte de personas mayores de 55 años con infección por VIH. Métodos: Estudio exploratorio prospectivo con cuatro años de seguimiento. Se incluyeron personas con infección por VIH seguidas en las consultas de enfermedades infecciosas de dos hospitales de Madrid. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y variables clínicas. Se evaluó la situación funcional, mental y social de los participantes. Se revisaron en las historias clínicas de los pacientes número de caídas, visitas a los servicios de urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muertes producidas durante el periodo estudiado. Resultados: Se incluyeron 117 pacientes con una edad media de 61,4 (desviación estándar 6,6) años y una mediana de seguimiento de 47 meses (35 a 50). De estos sujetos, el 25% tenía síntomas depresivos y el 10% tenía algún grado de deterioro cognitivo en la visita inicial. Las frecuencias de eventos adversos en salud registradas fueron: caídas del 7,7%, visitas a urgencias del 53%, ingresos hospitalarios del 33,3% y muertes del 2,6%. Los síntomas de depresión se asociaron con caídas y visitas a urgencias en el análisis bivariado. Los factores asociados a ingreso hospitalario fueron haber adquirido la infección por consumo de drogas por vía parenteral, ser frágil y ser menor de 65 años. Se realizó análisis multivariado para el resultado de ingresos hospitalarios con las variables que mostraron p < 0,05 en el análisis bivariado y ninguna de ellas alcanzó significación estadística. Conclusiones: Los síntomas de depresión y el deterioro cognitivo se presentan con una alta frecuencia en estos pacientes, por lo que debería realizarse tamizaje de ambos de forma sistemática en este grupo poblacional. Son necesarios estudios con más pacientes y mayor tiempo de seguimiento que permitan identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a eventos adversos en las personas mayores que viven con VIH.

CD4/CD8 Ratio During Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment: Time for Routine Monitoring?

In the last decade, studies in persons with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) have shed light on the significance of persistently high CD8 counts and low CD4/CD8 ratios. A low CD4/CD8 ratio reflects increased immune activation and is associated with an increased risk of severe non-AIDS events. As a result, many clinicians now believe that the CD4/CD8 ratio can help in HIV monitoring, and many researchers now report it as an efficacy marker in interventional studies. However, the topic is more complex. Recent studies have not yielded unanimous conclusions on the ability of the CD4/CD8 ratio to predict adverse outcomes, and only some clinical guidelines recommend monitoring it. Knowledge gaps remain on the best cutoff points, associated clinical events, effects of treatments, and how the CD4/CD8 ratio could improve decision making in the clinic. Here, we critically review the literature, identify knowledge gaps, and discuss the role of the CD4/CD8 ratio as a marker for HIV monitoring.

Estudio exploratorio prospectivo de los factores asociados a eventos adversos en salud en personas mayores que viven con VIH / An exploratory prospective study of the factors associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults living with HIV

Introducción Gracias al tratamiento antirretroviral en Occidente, la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se ha convertido en una enfermedad crónica. Hoy, el 50% de las personas que viven con VIH son mayores de 50 años y en torno al 20% de los nuevos casos de esta infección se dan en ese mismo grupo etario. Este trabajo tiene por objeto el analizar los factores clínicos y sociodemográficos asociados a eventos adversos en salud (caídas, visitas a urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muerte) en una cohorte de personas mayores de 55 años con infección por VIH. Métodos Estudio exploratorio prospectivo con cuatro años de seguimiento. Se incluyeron personas con infección por VIH seguidas en las consultas de enfermedades infecciosas de dos hospitales de Madrid. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y variables clínicas. Se evaluó la situación funcional, mental y social de los participantes. Se revisaron en las historias clínicas de los pacientes número de caídas, visitas a los servicios de urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muertes producidas durante el periodo estudiado. Resultados Se incluyeron 117 pacientes con una edad media de 61,4 (desviación estándar 6,6) años y una mediana de seguimiento de 47 meses (35 a 50). De estos sujetos, el 25% tenía síntomas depresivos y el 10% tenía algún grado de deterioro cognitivo en la visita inicial. Las frecuencias de eventos adversos en salud registradas fueron: caídas del 7,7%, visitas a urgencias del 53%, ingresos hospitalarios del 33,3% y muertes del 2,6%. Los síntomas de depresión se asociaron con caídas y visitas a urgencias en el análisis bivariado. Los factores asociados a ingreso hospitalario fueron haber adquirido la infección por consumo de drogas por vía parenteral, ser frágil y ser menor de 65 años. Se realizó análisis multivariado para el resultado de ingresos hospitalarios con las variables que mostraron p < 0,05 en el análisis bivariado y ninguna de ellas alcanzó significación estadística. Conclusiones Los síntomas de depresión y el deterioro cognitivo se presentan con una alta frecuencia en estos pacientes, por lo que debería realizarse tamizaje de ambos de forma sistemática en este grupo poblacional. Son necesarios estudios con más pacientes y mayor tiempo de seguimiento que permitan identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a eventos adversos en las personas mayores que viven con VIH.

Introducción Gracias al tratamiento antirretroviral en Occidente, la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se ha convertido en una enfermedad crónica. Hoy, el 50% de las personas que viven con VIH son mayores de 50 años y en torno al 20% de los nuevos casos de esta infección se dan en ese mismo grupo etario. Este trabajo tiene por objeto el analizar los factores clínicos y sociodemográficos asociados a eventos adversos en salud (caídas, visitas a urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muerte) en una cohorte de personas mayores de 55 años con infección por VIH. Métodos Estudio exploratorio prospectivo con cuatro años de seguimiento. Se incluyeron personas con infección por VIH seguidas en las consultas de enfermedades infecciosas de dos hospitales de Madrid. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y variables clínicas. Se evaluó la situación funcional, mental y social de los participantes. Se revisaron en las historias clínicas de los pacientes número de caídas, visitas a los servicios de urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios y muertes producidas durante el periodo estudiado. Resultados Se incluyeron 117 pacientes con una edad media de 61,4 (desviación estándar 6,6) años y una mediana de seguimiento de 47 meses (35 a 50). De estos sujetos, el 25% tenía síntomas depresivos y el 10% tenía algún grado de deterioro cognitivo en la visita inicial. Las frecuencias de eventos adversos en salud registradas fueron: caídas del 7,7%, visitas a urgencias del 53%, ingresos hospitalarios del 33,3% y muertes del 2,6%. Los síntomas de depresión se asociaron con caídas y visitas a urgencias en el análisis bivariado. Los factores asociados a ingreso hospitalario fueron haber adquirido la infección por consumo de drogas por vía parenteral, ser frágil y ser menor de 65 años. Se realizó análisis multivariado para el resultado de ingresos hospitalarios con las variables que mostraron p < 0,05 en el análisis bivariado y ninguna de ellas alcanzó significación estadística. Conclusiones Los síntomas de depresión y el deterioro cognitivo se presentan con una alta frecuencia en estos pacientes, por lo que debería realizarse tamizaje de ambos de forma sistemática en este grupo poblacional. Son necesarios estudios con más pacientes y mayor tiempo de seguimiento que permitan identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a eventos adversos en las personas mayores que viven con VIH.

Effects of frailty, geriatric syndromes, and comorbidity on mortality and quality of life in older adults with HIV.

BACKGROUND: To understand the effects of frailty, geriatric syndromes, and comorbidity on quality of life and mortality in older adults with HIV (OAWH). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of the FUNCFRAIL multicenter cohort. The setting was outpatient HIV-Clinic. OAWH, 50 year or over were included. We recorded sociodemographic data, HIV infection-related data, comorbidity, frailty, geriatric syndromes (depression, cognitive impairment, falls and malnutrition), quality of life (QOL) and the estimated risk of all-cause 5-year mortality by VACS Index. Association of frailty with geriatric syndromes and comorbidity was evaluated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. RESULTS: Seven hundred ninety six patients were included. 24.7% were women, mean age was 58.2 (6.3). 14.7% were 65 or over. 517 (65%) patients had ≥3 comorbidities, ≥ 1 geriatric syndrome and/or frailty. There were significant differences in the estimated risk of mortality [(frailty 10.8%) vs. (≥ 3 comorbidities 8.2%) vs. (≥ 1 geriatric syndrome 8.2%) vs. (nothing 6.2%); p = 0.01] and in the prevalence of fair or poor QOL [(frailty 71.7%) vs. (≥ 3 comorbidities 52%) vs. (≥ 1 geriatric syndrome 58.4%) vs. (nothing 51%); p = 0.01]. Cognitive impairment was significantly associated to mortality (8.7% vs. 6.2%; p = 0.02) and depression to poor QOL [76.5% vs. 50%; p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty, geriatric syndromes, and comorbidity had negative effects on mortality and QOL, but frailty had the greatest negative effect out of the three factors. Our results should be a wake-up call to standardize the screening for frailty and geriatric syndromes in OAWH in the clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03558438.

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

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.

[Senior-friendly hospital: The hospital of the 21st century]. / Hospital amable para la persona mayor: el hospital del siglo XXI.

The current health system must be revolutionized to meet the specific and real requirements of the largest population attended, older adults, and tailor the hospital to their needs, not the other way round. This is the goal of Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor: senior-friendly hospital. The project was established as a business process management system integrated into the management's hospital map. Four subprocesses were defined, as were all activities and tasks to be performed. The subprocesses are health care (delirium and functional decline prevention and the identification of frail older patients), training, the environment and its structures, and patient and family involvement. The leadership corresponds to the geriatricians who coordinate a multidisciplinary team of the project's referents. Actions must be scientific, evidence-based, rigorous, and evaluable, and they should be audited. The final aim is to change established mentalities, routines, and habits to convert the hospital to a friendlier place for older adults.

Frailty: the current challenge for aging people with HIV.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Older adults account for the majority of people with HIV (PWH) in high-income countries and have increasingly complex clinical profiles related to premature aging. Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome affecting a minority of PHW. Frailty negatively affects PHW's clinical status and quality of life. This review will update care providers on the current state of frailty that limits the healthspan of PWH. RECENT FINDINGS: Ongoing low-level HIV replication in treated PWH leads to immune activation and chronic inflammation contributing to the destabilization of normally autoregulated physiologic systems in response to environmental and biologic challenges characteristic of frailty. Understanding these underlying mechanisms will determine potential intervention options. Potentially reversible risk factors that promote progression to and reversion from the dynamic state of frailty are being studied and will help prevent frailty. Simple assessment tools and treatment strategies for frailty are being adapted for aging PWH. SUMMARY: Insight into underlying biologic mechanisms and adapting proven geriatric principles of interdisciplinary care will inform the healthy aging of PWH.

Frailty, markers of immune activation and oxidative stress in HIV infected elderly.

People living with HIV-1 experience an accelerated aging due to the persistent and chronic activation of the immune system. This phenomenon conduces to immune exhaustion and precipitate immunosenescence. In general, frailty is defined as a syndrome of physiological degeneration in the elderly. Circulating naïve and memory T cells were studied by flow cytometry in non-frail and frail HIV-1-infected groups. Thymopoiesis, cell activation, senescence and cell proliferation were analyzed by CD31, HLA-DR/CD38, CD28/CD57 and Ki-67 expression, respectively. Plasma levels of sCD14 and MDA were measured by ELISA. Frail infected individuals showed a reduced number of memory T cells, both CD4+ and CD8+ populations. Activated CD3+CD4+HLA-DR+ T cells were lower in frail individuals, and directly correlated with CD3+CD8+HLA-DR+ and CD8M cells. Senescent CD8+CD28-CD57+ cells were reduced in frail HIV-1 infected individuals and inversely correlated with CD8RTE, CD8N and CD3+CD4+HLA-DR+. Higher plasma levels of sCD14 and MDA were found in HIV-1 infected frail individuals. Our data show association among frailty, markers of immune activation and oxidative stress. Understanding the immune mechanisms underlying frailty status in HIV-1 population is of high relevance not only for the prediction of continuing longevity but also for the identification of potential strategies for the elderly.

Sex Differences in People Aging With HIV.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate differences between older women and men with HIV regarding HIV variables, comorbidity, physical function, and quality of life (QOL). SETTING: The Modena HIV clinic. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Cross-sectional analysis. Patients >50 years were included, stratified by sex. We recorded sociodemographic data, comorbidities, variables related to HIV infection, frailty, data on body composition, physical function, physical activity, and QOL. RESULTS: We evaluated 1126 older adults with HIV, of which 284 (25.2%) were women. Median age was 55 (IQR 6) years. There were significant differences between women and men in the median current CD4 T-cell and the mean CD4/CD8 ratio. There were differences regarding alcohol consumption, cardiovascular (CV) disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and renal failure. Sarcopenia and slower gait speed were found more prevalent among men, but without significant differences. Significant differences were found regarding lower extremity strength measured by the chair stand test and in the short physical performance battery score. Short physical performance battery <9 was detected for 11.1% women vs. 5.6% men (P = 0.002). EQ5D5L score was 0.87 in women vs. 0.89 in men (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, older women represented one in 4 of the total patients. Despite the fact that women have better immunological recovery measured by CD4 T-cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio, and fewer CV disease and CV risk factors than men, their physical function and their QOL are worse. Therefore, older HIV-infected women have special characteristics, and the assessment of physical function in this group seems to be crucial.

Deprescribing of non-antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients.

PURPOSE: In recent decades, the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has increased considerably, to the extent that the disease can now be considered chronic. In this context of progressive aging, HIV-infected persons have a greater prevalence of comorbid conditions. Consequently, they usually take more non-antiretroviral drugs, and their drug therapy are more complex. This supposes a greater risk of drug interactions, of hospitalization, falls, and death. In the last years, deprescribing has gained attention as a means to rationalize medication use. METHODS: Review of the different therapeutic approach that includes optimization of polypharmacy and control and reduction of potentially inappropriate prescription. RESULTS: There are several protocols for systematizing the deprescribing process. The most widely used tool is the Medication Regimen Complexity Index, an index validated in HIV-infected persons. Anticholinergic medications are the agents that have been most associated with major adverse effects so, various scales have been employed to measure it. Other tools should be employed to detect and prevent the use of potentially inappropriate drugs. Prioritization of candidates should be based, among others, on drugs that should always be avoided and drugs with no justified indication. CONCLUSIONS: The deprescribing process shared by professionals and patients definitively would improve management of treatment in this population. Because polypharmacy in HIV-infected patients show that a considerable percentage of patients could be candidates for deprescribing, we must understand the importance of deprescribing and that HIV-infected persons should be a priority group. This process would be highly feasible and effective in HIV-infected persons.

Frailty phenotype: a clinical marker of age acceleration in the older HIV-infected population.

AIM: To evaluate the association between DNA methylation and frailty in the HIV-infected population and to investigate the usefulness of assessing frailty as a clinical marker to identify age acceleration. METHODS: Frailty was assessed according to Fried's frailty phenotype. DNA methylation was analyzed in 10 frail patients, and compared with 10 robust control patients, all with HIV. Predicted age was inferred using the Weidner's formula. Age acceleration was assessed using the difference between predicted and chronological age. RESULTS: HIV-infected frail patients had significantly higher biological predicted ages than chronological ages (mean acceleration: 10.3 years; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: We link age acceleration and frailty in an older HIV population. Frailty could be used in this population for implementing specific clinical approaches.

Geriatric-HIV Medicine: the geriatrician's role.

The scenario of people living with HIV has dramatically changed, and nowadays older adults with HIV constitute almost half of the HIV population-and the percentage is growing. Frailty and geriatric syndromes have been highly demonstrated among older adults with HIV; therefore, the application of geriatric medicine principles to their approach has become essential. Geriatric-HIV Medicine, specific, collaborative work between HIV specialists and geriatricians, is a young discipline that has the goal of ensuring a global and specific approach to older patients that is focused on function and the continuum of care. The geriatrician's role adds value to the care of older people living with HIV through Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for those patients who can benefit but goes beyond the clinical approach and involves generating scientific evidence that impacts and changes the current model of care.

Why are people with HIV considered "older adults" in their fifties?

One in six new HIV diagnoses in Europe occur among people over 50 years of age. As in the general population, the aging process is not homogeneous among older adults with HIV, and some of them exhibit impaired physical function, higher frailty and more frequent geriatric syndromes. These illness reflect a higher biological age independently of their chronological age. After starting antirretroviral treatment, people living with HIV (PLWH) older than 50 exhibit a poorer immunological recovery than younger PLWH. Moreover, older adults with HIV present early onset of comorbidities and functional impairment caused by persistent and chronic activation of the immune system, which leads to immune exhaustion and accelerated immunosenescence despite optimal suppression of HIV replication. The evidence of poorer immunological response to ARV, linked with early immunosenescence in PLWH and its prematurely deleterious effect in physiological functions and its clinical consequences, are the basis to accept the cut-off of 50 years of age to define an "older adult with HIV".