Frailty, Physical Function Impairment, and Pulmonary Function in Aging Men With and Without HIV from the Multicenter...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• People aging with HIV (PAWH) exhibit accelerated aging and greater physical and pulmonary function decline compared to their HIV-negative peers.
• Understanding the link between physical and pulmonary health is crucial for managing long-term health outcomes in aging populations, particularly PAWH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between baseline physical function and subsequent pulmonary impairments in a cohort of older men.
• To determine if frailty, gait speed, and grip strength predict future declines in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1).

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study modeling associations of frailty, gait speed, and grip strength with pulmonary function (DLCO, FEV1) measured three years later.
• Statistical models assessed age, HIV status, and smoking as potential effect modifiers.
• Included 1,024 men, with data on physical function, pulmonary function, and relevant covariates.

Main Results:

• Frailty, prefrailty, and weaker grip strength were significantly associated with increased odds of subsequent impaired DLCO and FEV1.
• Slower gait speed was linked to higher odds of DLCO impairment but not FEV1 impairment.
• No significant effect modification by age, HIV status, or smoking was observed.

Conclusions:

• Baseline physical function, including frailty and grip strength, is a significant predictor of future pulmonary function decline in older men.
• Interventions aimed at improving physical function may play a vital role in preserving pulmonary health among aging populations, including PAWH.