Aging with HIV: The Interplay of Neighborhood-Level Social Vulnerability, Social Support, and Physical Activity

Engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is essential for healthy aging in people with HIV (PWH), though social determinants may influence activity levels. This cross-sectional study examined associations between neighborhood social vulnerability, social support, and MVPA among 198 PWH aged ≥ 50 from the PROSPER-HIV study across four U.S. sites. MVPA was measured with ActiGraph accelerometers (minutes/week), social vulnerability with the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and social support with the Multifactorial Assessment of Perceived Social Support-Short Form. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between study variables, adjusting for age, sex, and site. Median MVPA was 110 min/week (IQR: 48.03-237.05). Higher SVI was associated with MVPA in unadjusted models but did not reach statistical significance (β= -1.77; p = 0.053), and this association was attenuated after adjustment (p = 0.20). Social support was not associated with MVPA. Findings highlight the need for larger studies using more precise measures of structural factors relevant to physical activity among older PWH.