Vecchio A, Nakigozi G, Nakasujja N, Kisakye A, Batte J, Mayanja R, Anok A, Robertson K, Wawer MJ, Sacktor N, Rubin LH, Saylor D. Assessment, prevalence, and correlates of frailty among middle-aged adults with HIV in rural Uganda. J Neurovirol. 2021 Jun;27(3):487-492. doi: 10.1007/s13365-021-00969-x. Epub 2021 Mar 31. PMID: 33788138.
Abstract
We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for frailty among people with HIV (PWH) in rural Uganda (n = 55, 47% male, mean age 44 years). Frailty was defined according to the Fried criteria with self-reported physical activity level replacing the Minnesota Leisure Time Activity Questionnaire. Alternate classifications for physical activity utilized were the sub-Saharan Africa Activity Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Eleven participants (19%) were frail. Frail participants were older (p < 0.001), less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy (p = 0.03), and had higher rates of depression (p < .001) and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (p = 0.003). Agreement between physical activity measures was sub-optimal. Prevalence of frailty was high among PWH in rural Uganda, but larger sample sizes and local normative data are needed.