Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Aging Men With and Without HIV from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

People living with HIV have greater pulmonary function impairments and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to uninfected peers. We examined whether pulmonary impairment was associated with HRQoL or respiratory health status. Using Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study data (2017-2019), associations between outcomes [HRQoL (36-Item Short Form Survey) and respiratory health status (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire)] with pulmonary impairment [diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL_CO) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), defined as <80% predicted for both] were examined. Adjusted analyses utilized linear and zero-inflated beta regression, the latter summarized by odds ratio (OR) and quotient ratios (QRs). We also considered whether the subset of adjustment variables age, HIV serostatus, or smoking modified the relationships examined. Of 1048 men, 55% had HIV, with median age 57 [interquartile range (IQR) = 48, 64] years and 1.2 (IQR = 0, 18.1) smoking pack-years. Impaired DL_CO, but not impaired FEV_1, was significantly associated with lower physical HRQoL [-2.71 (-4.09, -1.33); -1.46 (-3.45, 0.54), respectively]. Pulmonary impairment was associated with higher odds of any St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) (total score) limitation [DL_CO OR = 1.53 (1.15, 2.04); FEV₁ OR = 2.48 (1.16, 5.30)] and was elevated in individuals with more severe SGRQ limitations [DL_CO QR = 1.13 (0.94, 1.36); FEV₁ QR = 1.27 (0.98, 1.64)]. HIV did not modify any associations examined. Age modified the DL_CO and any respiratory limitation (SGRQ symptom score) association for every 10 mL CO/min/mmHg decrease in DL_CO [age 30 OR = 1.03 (0.51, 2.08); age 50 OR = 1.85 (1.27, 3.85); and age 70 OR = 3.45 (2.00, 5.88)]. Similarly, age modified the DL_CO and any respiratory limitation (SGRQ total score) association. FEV₁ associations with SGRQ and HRQoL scores were similar across all ages. Impaired pulmonary function was associated with lower HRQoL and greater respiratory impairments. Future studies can determine if interventions aimed at preserving pulmonary function are effective in improving HRQoL and respiratory health among aging men with and without HIV.