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Observational Study
. 2025 Mar 15;39(4):373-380.
doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000004086. Epub 2024 Dec 2.

Predictors of frailty trajectories among people with HIV

Evelyn Iriarte  1 , Heather L Smyth  2 , Sarah Schmiege  3 , Katherine Tassiopoulos  4 , Catherine M Jankowski  1 , Kristine M Erlandson  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Predictors of frailty trajectories among people with HIV

Evelyn Iriarte et al. AIDS. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the latent frailty trajectories and identify corresponding predictors (sociodemographic, HIV-related, comorbidities, and behavioral) among a cohort of people with HIV (PWH).

Design: Longitudinal observational study using latent class growth modeling.

Methods: Nine hundred and seventy-six PWH aged 40 years and older with frailty measured from at least two visits within the ACTG HAILO cohort were included. Frailty components included weakness, physical activity, weight loss, exhaustion, and slowness. Latent class growth models were estimated to capture change in frailty over time; multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate associations between predictors and frailty trajectory class.

Results: At baseline, participants were M = 51.5 years old ( SD = 7.5), 81% male ( n = 783), 48% White non-Hispanic ( n = 461), and 20% Hispanic ( n = 195). Latent class growth models identified three frailty trajectories: sustained robustness ( n = 811; 83%), worsening frailty ( n = 79; 8%), and frailty improvement ( n = 86; 9%). Older age, race, sex at birth, select comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, depression, type 2 diabetes), and behavioral characteristics (physical activity, smoking, and alcohol) were associated with fluctuations in frailty trajectories over time ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Modifiable factors such as managing comorbidities and promoting physical activity present ideal opportunities for future interventions to prevent or slow the progression of frailty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: KME has received a research grant and payments for consulting from Gilead Sciences and payments for consulting from ViiV (all paid to her employer).

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