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. 2019 Feb 14;14(2):e0212283.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212283. eCollection 2019.

The dynamic association between Frailty, CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio in people aging with HIV

Giovanni Guaraldi  1 , Stefano Zona  1 , Ana Rita Silva  2 , Marianna Menozzi  1 , Giovanni Dolci  1 , Jovana Milic  3 , Federica Carli  1 , Cristina Mussini  1
Affiliations

The dynamic association between Frailty, CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio in people aging with HIV

Giovanni Guaraldi et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between current CD4+ T-cell count and CD4/CD8+ ratio with severity of frailty among people aging with HIV.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study analysing data from all study visits in the ongoing prospective Modena HIV Metabolic Clinic Cohort between 2006 and 2015. Frailty severity was assessed using a frailty index (FI). We visualized the relationships between frailty index score and current CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio on two different curves adjusted for age, sex, and duration of HIV infection.

Results: Frailty index scores exhibited an inverse relationship with current CD4 count, up to 900 cells/μL. The CD4/CD8 ratio was inversely correlated with frailty index both below and above the cut-off of 900 CD4 cells/μL.

Conclusions: Frailty in PLWH is inversely associated with both immune-activation, depicted by CD4/CD8 ratio and immune-deficit depicted by CD4 count. The first association shows a linear shape while the second shows a hook-shape with a turning point at 900 cells. Above this cut off level CD4 do not represent a significant risk factor for frailty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Relationship between mean frailty index and current CD4 cell count.
Using a Lowess smoothing curve, frailty index exhibited a hook-shaped relationship with current CD4 count.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Relationship between mean frailty index and CD4/CD8 ratio.
Frailty index exhibites a hook-shaped relationship with current CD4 count.
Fig 3
Fig 3. GEE linear regression estimates in subpopulation with CD4/CD8 ratio.
Panel A—GEE linear regression estimates for people with CD4 cell counts less than 900/μL. Panel B—GEE linear regression estimates for those with CD4 cell counts >900/μL.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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