Sex Differences in Non-AIDS Comorbidities Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Polypharmacy Is Associated With Slow Gait Speed and Recurrent Falls in Older People With HIV

BACKGROUND

Older people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) are prone to using multiple medications due to higher rates of medical comorbidities and the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the prevalence and clinical impact of polypharmacy among PWH.

METHODS

We leveraged clinical data from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5322 study "Long-Term Follow-up of Older HIV-infected Adults: Addressing Issues of Aging, HIV Infection and Inflammation" (HAILO). We included PWH aged ≥40 years with plasma HIV RNA levels <200 copies/µL. We assessed the relationship between polypharmacy (defined as the use of 5 or more prescription medications, excluding ART) and hyperpolypharmacy (defined as the use of 10 or more prescription medications, excluding ART) with slow gait speed (less than 1 meter/second) and falls, including recurrent falls.

RESULTS

Excluding ART, 24% of study participants had polypharmacy and 4% had hyperpolypharmacy. Polypharmacy was more common in women (30%) than men (23%). Participants with polypharmacy had a higher risk of slow gait speed (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-2.50) and increased risk of recurrent falls (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.06-4.23). The risk for recurrent falls was further increased in those with hyperpolypharmacy compared with those without polypharmacy (OR = 3.46; 95% CI = 1.32-9.12).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, mixed-sex cohort of PWH aged ≥40 years, polypharmacy was associated with slow gait speed and recurrent falls, even after accounting for medical comorbidities, alcohol use, substance use, and other factors. These results highlight the need for increased focus on identifying and managing polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy in PWH.

Factors influencing the health-related quality of life of older men and women living with HIV in Spain

The number of older people living with HIV (OPLHIV) is increasing worldwide. However, little is known about the factors that better predict their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We administered the validated WHOQoL-HIV BREF questionnaire to 247 Spanish OPLHIV (192 men and 55 women). In addition to the six domains of the questionnaire, we constructed a seventh domain as theaverage of punctuations of all domains. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust estimates by sex were constructed for the seven domains (14 in total). The best-subset selection method together with Mallow's Cp metric was used to select the model factors. The percentage of variability explained by Poisson models ranged from15-38% for men and 29-70% for women. The analysis showed that women were most affected by ageing (four domains), mobility impairments (five domains), and mental disorders (five domains). The factors with the greatest negative influence on men were heterosexuality (six domains), mental disorders (six domains), being single (five domains), and poverty risk (three domains). Physical activity was found to improve HRQoL in both men (six domains) and women (four domains). Future OPLHIV programmes would benefit from considering sex specific HRQoL factors. This could also improve the cost-effectiveness of interventions.

Clinical characteristics of women with HIV in the RESPOND cohort: A descriptive analysis and comparison to men

BACKGROUND

Women with HIV are globally underrepresented in clinical research. Existing studies often focus on reproductive outcomes, seldom focus on older women, and are often underpowered to assess sex/gender differences. We describe CD4, HIV viral load (VL), clinical characteristics, comorbidity burden, and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among women with HIV in the RESPOND study and compare them with those of the men in RESPOND.

METHODS

RESPOND is a prospective, multi-cohort collaboration including over 34 000 people with HIV from across Europe and Australia. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including CD4/VL, comorbidity burden, and ART are presented at baseline, defined as the latter of 1 January 2012 or enrolment into the local cohort, stratified by age and sex/gender. We further stratify men by reported mode of HIV acquisition, men who have sex with men (MSM) and non-MSM.

RESULTS

Women account for 26.0% (n = 9019) of the cohort, with a median age of 42.2 years (interquartile range [IQR] 34.7-49.1). The majority (59.3%) of women were white, followed by 30.3% Black. Most women (75.8%) had acquired HIV heterosexually and 15.9% via injecting drug use. Nearly half (44.8%) were receiving a boosted protease inhibitor, 31.4% a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and 7.8% an integrase strand transfer inhibitor. The baseline year was 2012 for 73.2% of women and >2019 for 4.2%. Median CD4 was 523 (IQR 350-722) cells/μl, and 73.6% of women had a VL <200 copies/mL. Among the ART-naïve population, women were more likely than MSM but less likely than non-MSM (p < 0.001) to have CD4 <200 cells/μL and less likely than both MSM and non-MSM (p < 0.001) to have VL ≥100 000 copies/mL. Women were also more likely to be free of comorbidity than were both MSM and non-MSM (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

RESPOND women are diverse in age, ethnicity/race, CD4/VL, and comorbidity burden, with important differences relative to men. This work highlights the importance of stratification by sex/gender for future research that may help improve screening and management guidelines specifically for women with HIV.

Sex and HIV Differences in Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) Among Ugandans Postpneumonia

Background

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), defined as a normal ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (≥0.70) with low FEV1 (<80% predicted), has been associated with increased mortality in the general population. Female sex has been associated with increased odds of PRISm in people without HIV. People with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk for lung function abnormalities, but whether HIV modifies the effect of sex on PRISm development is largely unknown.

Methods

Adults with and without HIV underwent baseline followed by serial spirometry after completing therapy for pneumonia, predominantly tuberculosis (TB), in Kampala, Uganda. Using generalized estimating equations adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, biomass fuel exposure, HIV, and TB status, we compared individuals with PRISm with those with normal spirometry. These models were stratified by HIV status.

Results

Of 339 baseline participants, 153 (45%) were women; 129 (38%) had HIV, of whom 53% were women. Overall, 105/339 participants (31%) had PRISm at baseline. HIV was associated with lower odds of PRISm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.21-0.68; P = .001). Female sex trended toward increased odds of PRISm among all participants (aOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.99-2.75; P = .052). The association between female sex and PRISm tended to be stronger among PWH (aOR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.14-8.76; P = .03) than among those without HIV (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.73-2.45; P = .34); this study was underpowered to detect an HIV-sex interaction of this magnitude (P = .30).

Conclusions

Among Ugandan adults who recovered from pneumonia, female sex was associated with increased odds and HIV with decreased odds of PRISm, suggesting independent sex and HIV effects on PRISm pathogenesis.

Sex modifies the risk of HIV-associated obstructive lung disease in Ugandans postpneumonia

OBJECTIVES

Spirometric abnormalities are frequent, and obstructive lung disease (OLD) is a common comorbidity among people with HIV (PWH). HIV increases the risk of many comorbidities to a greater degree in women than in men. Few studies have evaluated whether sex modifies the HIV-associated risk of OLD.

DESIGN AND METHODS

To evaluate the associations between sex and HIV with abnormal lung function, women and men with and without HIV underwent spirometric testing after completing therapy for pneumonia, including tuberculosis (TB), in Kampala, Uganda. OLD was defined as a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC) ratio less than 0.70. Associations between sex, HIV, and lung function were evaluated using multivariable regression models including sex-by-HIV interaction terms after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, and TB status.

RESULTS

Among 348 participants, 147 (42%) were women and 135 (39%) were HIV-positive. Sixteen (11%) women and 23 men (11%) had OLD. The HIV-sex interaction was significant for obstructive lung disease ( P  = 0.04). In the adjusted stratified analysis, women with HIV had 3.44 (95% CI 1.11-12.0; P  = 0.04) increased odds of having OLD compared with men with HIV. Women without HIV did not have increased odds of having OLD compared with men without HIV.

CONCLUSION

HIV appears to increase the risk of OLD to a greater degree in women than in men in an urban Ugandan setting. The mechanistic explanation for this interaction by sex remains unclear and warrants further study.

Aging-Related Comorbidity Burden Among Women and Men With or At-Risk for HIV in the US, 2008-2019

Importance

Despite aging-related comorbidities representing a growing threat to quality-of-life and mortality among persons with HIV (PWH), clinical guidance for comorbidity screening and prevention is lacking. Understanding comorbidity distribution and severity by sex and gender is essential to informing guidelines for promoting healthy aging in adults with HIV.

Objective

To assess the association of human immunodeficiency virus on the burden of aging-related comorbidities among US adults in the modern treatment era.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional analysis included data from US multisite observational cohort studies of women (Women's Interagency HIV Study) and men (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study) with HIV and sociodemographically comparable HIV-seronegative individuals. Participants were prospectively followed from 2008 for men and 2009 for women (when more than 80% of participants with HIV reported antiretroviral therapy use) through last observation up until March 2019, at which point outcomes were assessed. Data were analyzed from July 2020 to April 2021.

Exposures

HIV, age, sex.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Comorbidity burden (the number of total comorbidities out of 10 assessed) per participant; secondary outcomes included individual comorbidity prevalence. Linear regression assessed the association of HIV status, age, and sex with comorbidity burden.

Results

A total of 5929 individuals were included (median [IQR] age, 54 [46-61] years; 3238 women [55%]; 2787 Black [47%], 1153 Hispanic or other [19%], 1989 White [34%]). Overall, unadjusted mean comorbidity burden was higher among women vs men (3.4 [2.1] vs 3.2 [1.8]; P = .02). Comorbidity prevalence differed by sex for hypertension (2188 of 3238 women [68%] vs 2026 of 2691 men [75%]), psychiatric illness (1771 women [55%] vs 1565 men [58%]), dyslipidemia (1312 women [41%] vs 1728 men [64%]), liver (1093 women [34%] vs 1032 men [38%]), bone disease (1364 women [42%] vs 512 men [19%]), lung disease (1245 women [38%] vs 259 men [10%]), diabetes (763 women [24%] vs 470 men [17%]), cardiovascular (493 women [15%] vs 407 men [15%]), kidney (444 women [14%] vs 404 men [15%]) disease, and cancer (219 women [7%] vs 321 men [12%]). In an unadjusted model, the estimated mean difference in comorbidity burden among women vs men was significantly greater in every age strata among PWH: age under 40 years, 0.33 (95% CI, 0.03-0.63); ages 40 to 49 years, 0.37 (95% CI, 0.12-0.61); ages 50 to 59 years, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.20-0.56); ages 60 to 69 years, 0.66 (95% CI, 0.42-0.90); ages 70 years and older, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.07-1.17). However, the difference between sexes varied by age strata among persons without HIV: age under 40 years, 0.52 (95% CI, 0.13 to 0.92); ages 40 to 49 years, -0.07 (95% CI, -0.45 to 0.31); ages 50 to 59 years, 0.88 (95% CI, 0.62 to 1.14); ages 60 to 69 years, 1.39 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.72); ages 70 years and older, 0.33 (95% CI, -0.53 to 1.19) (P for interaction = .001). In the covariate-adjusted model, findings were slightly attenuated but retained statistical significance.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, the overall burden of aging-related comorbidities was higher in women vs men, particularly among PWH, and the distribution of comorbidity prevalence differed by sex. Comorbidity screening and prevention strategies tailored by HIV serostatus and sex or gender may be needed.

Dyslipidemia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disease: JACC Review Topic of the Week

The advent of newer and better tolerated antiretroviral therapy has progressively shortened the life expectancy gap between people living with HIV (PWH) and the general population. However, in this aging cohort, cardiovascular disease is now a significant cause of morbidity and mortality despite advances in cardiac care. Therefore, it is critical to assess and treat all cardiovascular disease risk factors, including dyslipidemia, early and aggressively in PWH. Data are not as robust regarding the pathogenesis and management of dyslipidemia in PWH, with most evidence being extrapolated from the general uninfected population. In this review the authors describe the current understanding of the pathophysiology of HIV and antiretroviral therapy-induced dyslipidemia, and the approach to risk assessment and management, given that drug-drug interactions remain an important consideration in this population.

Dual trajectories of antiretroviral therapy adherence and polypharmacy in women with HIV in the United States

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy, using five or more medications, may increase the risk of nonadherence to prescribed treatment. We aimed to identify the interrelationship between trajectories of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and polypharmacy.

METHODS

We included women with HIV (aged ≥ 18) enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study in the United States from 2014 to 2019. We used group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify trajectories of adherence to ART and polypharmacy and the dual GBTM to identify the interrelationship between adherence and polypharmacy.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,538 were eligible (median age of 49 years). GBTM analysis revealed five latent trajectories of adherence with 42% of women grouped in the consistently moderate trajectory. GBTM identified four polypharmacy trajectories with 45% categorized in the consistently low group.

CONCLUSIONS

The joint model did not reveal any interrelationship between ART adherence and polypharmacy trajectories. Future research should consider examining the interrelationship between both variables using objective measures of adherence.

Cumulative Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 Viremia Is Associated With Increased Risk of Multimorbidity Among US Women With HIV, 1997-2019

Background

To evaluate the effect of cumulative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 viremia on aging-related multimorbidity among women with HIV (WWH), we analyzed data collected prospectively among women who achieved viral suppression after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (1997-2019).

Methods

We included WWH with ≥2 plasma HIV-1 viral loads (VL) <200 copies/mL within a 2-year period (baseline) following self-reported ART use. Primary outcome was multimorbidity (≥2 nonacquired immune deficiency syndrome comorbidities [NACM] of 5 total assessed). The trapezoidal rule calculated viremia copy-years (VCY) as area-under-the-VL-curve. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the association of time-updated cumulative VCY with incident multimorbidity and with incidence of each NACM, adjusting for important covariates (eg, age, CD4 count, etc).

Results

Eight hundred six WWH contributed 6368 women-years, with median 12 (Q1-Q3, 7-23) VL per participant. At baseline, median age was 39 years, 56% were Black, and median CD4 was 534 cells/mm3. Median time-updated cumulative VCY was 5.4 (Q1-Q3, 4.7-6.9) log10 copy-years/mL. Of 211 (26%) WWH who developed multimorbidity, 162 (77%) had incident hypertension, 133 (63%) had dyslipidemia, 60 (28%) had diabetes, 52 (25%) had cardiovascular disease, and 32 (15%) had kidney disease. Compared with WWH who had time-updated cumulative VCY <5 log10, the adjusted hazard ratio of multimorbidity was 1.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-3.08) and 3.78 (95% CI, 2.17-6.58) for those with VCY 5-6.9 and ≥7 log10 copy-years/mL, respectively (P < .0001). Higher time-updated cumulative VCY increased the risk of each NACM.

Conclusions

Among ART-treated WWH, greater cumulative viremia increased the risk of multimorbidity and of developing each NACM, and hence this may be a prognostically useful biomarker for NACM risk assessment in this population.

Dual Trajectories of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Polypharmacy in Women with HIV in the United States

Background Polypharmacy, using five or more medications, may increase the risk of nonadherence to prescribed treatment. We aimed to identify the interrelationship between trajectories of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and polypharmacy. Methods We included women with HIV (aged ≥ 18) enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study in the United States from 2014 to 2019. We used group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) to identify trajectories of adherence to ART and polypharmacy and the dual GBTM to identify the interrelationship between adherence and polypharmacy. Results Overall, 1,538 were eligible (median age of 49 years). GBTM analysis revealed five latent trajectories of adherence with 42% of women grouped in the consistently moderate trajectory. GBTM identified four polypharmacy trajectories with 45% categorized in the consistently low group. Conclusions The joint model did not reveal any interrelationship between ART adherence and polypharmacy trajectories. Future research should consider examining the interrelationship between both variables using objective measures of adherence.

Cardiovascular Disease Among Persons Living With HIV: New Insights Into Pathogenesis and Clinical Manifestations in a Global Context

Widespread use of contemporary antiretroviral therapy globally has transformed HIV disease into a chronic illness associated with excess risk for disorders of the heart and circulatory system. Current clinical care and research has focused on improving HIV-related cardiovascular disease outcomes, survival, and quality of life. In high-income countries, emphasis on prevention of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease over the past decade, including aggressive management of traditional risk factors and earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy, has reduced risk for myocardial infarction among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection. Still, across the globe, persons living with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection on effective antiretroviral therapy treatment remain at increased risk for ischemic outcomes such as myocardial infarction and stroke relative to the persons without HIV. Unique features of HIV-related cardiovascular disease, in part, include the pathogenesis of coronary disease characterized by remodeling ectasia and unusual plaque morphology, the relative high proportion of type 2 myocardial infarction events, abnormalities of the aorta such as aneurysms and diffuse aortic inflammation, and HIV cerebrovasculopathy as a contributor to stroke risk. Literature over the past decade has also reflected a shift in the profile and prevalence of HIV-associated heart failure, with a reduced but persistent risk of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and a growing risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and autopsy data have emphasized the central importance of intramyocardial fibrosis for the pathogenesis of both heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and the increase in risk of sudden cardiac death. Still, more research is needed to better characterize the underlying mechanisms and clinical phenotype of HIV-associated myocardial disease in the current era. Across the different cardiovascular disease manifestations, a common pathogenic feature is that HIV-associated inflammation working through different mechanisms may amplify underlying pathology because of traditional risk and other host factors. The prevalence and phenotype of individual cardiovascular disease manifestations is ultimately influenced by the degree of injury from HIV disease combined with the profile of underlying cardiometabolic factors, both of which may differ substantially by region globally.

Sex Differences in HIV Infection

Biological sex has wide-ranging impacts on HIV infection spanning differences in acquisition risk, the pathogenesis of untreated infection, impact of chronic treated disease and prospects for HIV eradication or functional cure. This chapter summarizes the scope of these differences and discusses several features of the immune response thought to contribute to the clinical outcomes.

Changes in Inflammatory and Atherogenesis Biomarkers With the 2-Drug Regimen Dolutegravir Plus Lamivudine in Antiretroviral Therapy–Experienced, Virologically Suppressed People With HIV-1: A Systematic Literature Review

Background

The 2-drug regimen dolutegravir plus lamivudine has demonstrated long-term noninferior efficacy vs 3-/4-drug regimens (3/4DRs) in phase 3 trials. This systematic literature review summarizes clinical trial and real-world evidence evaluating impact of dolutegravir plus lamivudine on inflammatory and atherogenesis biomarkers in people with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (PWH).

Methods

Using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases and conference proceedings, we searched for studies published from 1 January 2013 to 14 July 2021, reporting changes in inflammatory and atherogenesis biomarkers with dolutegravir plus lamivudine in antiretroviral therapy–experienced, virologically suppressed PWH aged ≥18 years.

Results

Four records representing 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 6 records of real-world evidence met eligibility criteria. All real-world studies evaluated CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, while only 1 assessed inflammatory biomarkers. Across both RCTs, no consistent pattern of change in biomarkers was observed between dolutegravir/lamivudine and 3/4DR comparators. There were significant changes in soluble CD14 favoring dolutegravir/lamivudine in TANGO at weeks 48 and 144 and SALSA at week 48, and in interleukin-6 favoring the control group in TANGO at weeks 48 and 144. In the real-world study evaluating inflammatory biomarkers, median soluble CD14 significantly decreased 48 weeks postswitch to dolutegravir plus lamivudine (P < .001), while other biomarkers remained stable. In all 6 real-world studies, increases in CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were reported after switch to dolutegravir plus lamivudine (follow-up, 12–60 months).

Conclusions

Results show that dolutegravir plus lamivudine has a comparable impact on inflammatory and atherogenesis biomarkers vs 3/4DRs, with no consistent pattern of change after switch in virologically suppressed PWH.