Frailty, Physical Function Impairment and Pulmonary Function in Aging Men with and without HIV from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)

TL;DR

This study finds that physical and pulmonary function decline more in aging men with HIV compared to those without, and that physical impairments like frailty are linked to future lung function issues.

Contribution

The study identifies physical function as a predictor of future pulmonary impairment in aging men with and without HIV.

Findings

Frailty and weak grip strength are associated with higher odds of impaired DLCO and FEV1 three years later.

Slow gait speed is linked to DLCO impairment but not FEV1.

Physical interventions may help preserve pulmonary function in aging individuals.

Abstract

People aging with HIV (PAWH) experience greater impairment in physical and pulmonary function than individuals aging without HIV. We examined whether baseline physical function was associated with subsequent pulmonary impairments.

Associations of frailty and physical function (gait speed [m/sec], grip strength [kg]) with pulmonary function (< 80% predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCO] and forced expiratory volume [FEV1]) 3 years later were modeled; age, HIV status, and smoking were assessed as effect modifiers.

Among1,024 men, (54% PAWH, 10% frail, 51% pre-frail), mean (SD) age = 53 (12) years, cumulative smoking = 12 (19) pack-years, gait speed = 1.1 (0.2) m/sec, and grip strength = 36.6 (9.2) kg. Frailty, pre-frailty, and weak grip strength were associated with higher odds of subsequent impaired DLCO and FEV1. Slow gait speed was associated with higher odds of DLCO impairment but not FEV1. No statistically significant modifications were found.

Interventions to improve physical function may help preserve pulmonary function.

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