Patterns of objectively measured physical activity differ between men living with and without HIV

Area of Science:

• Biomedical research
• Epidemiology
• Public health

Background:

• HIV infection is associated with various health complications, including potential impacts on physical activity.
• Understanding physical activity patterns in people living with HIV (PLWH) is crucial for managing overall health and well-being.
• Viral load is a key indicator of HIV disease progression and management, potentially influencing physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify differences in physical activity (PA) using accelerometers based on HIV serostatus and viral load (VL) within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).
• To compare PA metrics between people living with HIV (PLWH) and people without HIV (PWOH), and further stratify by VL detectability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized accelerometers integrated into ambulatory electrocardiogram monitors worn by MACS participants for 1-14 days.
• Summarized PA using cumulative mean absolute deviation (MAD) during the 10 most active (M10) and 6 least active (L6) hours, and daily time recumbent (DTR).
• Employed linear mixed models to compare PA summaries by HIV serostatus and VL detectability, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• PLWH with detectable VL exhibited higher L6 and spent more time recumbent compared to PWOH.
• PLWH showed lower M10 (indicating less vigorous activity) compared to PWOH, regardless of VL detectability.
• A joint analysis confirmed significant differences in average PA measurements by HIV serostatus and VL (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Physical activity measures significantly differ based on HIV serostatus and viral load.
• Elevated L6 in PLWH with detectable VL may suggest poorer sleep quality.
• Reduced M10 in PLWH indicates lower overall physical activity levels compared to PWOH.