A Perspective on Frailty and its Predisposing Factors among People Living with HIV

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• People Living with HIV (PLHIV) experience accelerated aging, leading to increased non-infectious comorbidities.
• Frailty is a growing concern in aging PLHIV, influenced by chronic inflammation, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and traditional risk factors.
• Current strategies for healthy aging in PLHIV are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a narrative review of factors contributing to accelerated aging and frailty in PLHIV.
• To identify key areas for intervention to promote healthy aging in this population.
• To provide clinicians with a pragmatic overview to facilitate patient care.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of existing literature was performed.
• Key factors associated with aging and frailty in PLHIV were identified.
• The review focused on practical considerations for clinical application.

Main Results:

• Accelerated aging in PLHIV is linked to chronic inflammation, ART toxicity, and traditional risk factors.
• Key contributors to frailty include inactivity, sarcopenia, vitamin D deficiency, and polypharmacy.
• These factors exacerbate non-infectious comorbidities like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Conclusions:

• Addressing inactivity, sarcopenia, vitamin D deficiency, and polypharmacy is crucial for preventing functional decline in aging PLHIV.
• Interventions targeting these factors can improve the quality of life for PLHIV.
• Further research is needed to develop and evaluate comprehensive healthy aging strategies for PLHIV.