Resilience and Frailty in People Living With HIV During the COVID Era: Two Complementary Constructs Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life

Acceptability and Feasibility of "Latinos Unidos": A Microgame Resource Combatting Health Misinformation for Latinos Living with HIV

COVID-19 mitigation strategies, including shelter-in-place orders, masking, and social distancing combined with the widespread "infodemic" may interact synergistically to worsen already compromised mental health outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH). We developed a three-part microgame intervention, "Latino Unidos," targeting media health literacy education that could be mobilized to protect the mental health of Latinx PLWH as well as promote HIV care during the pandemic. We utilized a community-based approach by working with two local community partners and conducted interviews and focus groups from three perspectives: Latino PLWH, ID providers, and community health workers. Participants evaluated three microgame modules for literacy objectives, acceptability, and feasibility. Feedback offered from each round of module review indicated that each of the game experiences supported the aim of addressing health mis/disinformation. Results indicated relative success demonstrated by positive responses on module literacy goals, acceptability, and feasibility. Our approach illuminates the intersection between content development around media literacy and microgame modality as a novel mHealth resource. Study outcomes offer suggestions and strategies for optimizing content effectiveness and intervention material dissemination.

Quality of life among PLHIV enrolled under TANSACS during COVID era - a mixed method study

The burden of avoidable illness, accidents and impairments can be estimated by understanding the quality of life, and it can also offer important new insights into the connections between risk factors and the quality of life. This study assessed the quality of life of people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic which would have caused substantial difficulties for such individuals. Data were collected using WHOQOL-BREF SCALE and FGD Semi-Structured Questionnaire. People living with HIV enrolled under TANSACS were included. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the association between the demographic variables and the domains of the quality of life. The quality of life was determined using 4 domains. The average score for each domain includes physical health, 54.39, psychological, 44.85, social relationships, 48.48 and environment 57.69. The average overall score for the quality of life was 51.35. The occupation variable is significant with all the domains; physical health (P = 0.030), psychological (P = 0.046), social relationships (P = 0.027) and environment (P = 0.023) and the gender variable is significant with physical health (P = 0.026), social relationship (P = 0.007) domains. COVID-19 worsened quality of life for HIV patients, impacting healthcare, support, jobs, and stigma. The employment status also significantly impacted.

Resilient Adaptation Strategies: Unveiling Older Adults' Coping Dynamics Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Older adults, who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), exhibit less stress and greater well-being than their younger peers. However, there have been no in-depth explorations of adaptive coping strategies among this population, nor has the role of frailty status been addressed. The current study examined stress and coping in 30 U.S. older adults (mean age = 81 years, range = 68 to 95 years) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, uncovering themes of: (1) Pandemic Stresses: stresses experienced during the pandemic centered around social isolation and concern for others' well-being; (2) Resilience: older adults proved highly adaptable, with lifetime experience as a stress buffer; and (3) Silver Linings: older adults reported positive by-products, such as reconnecting with and a renewed appreciation for life and nature. Motivation for change and change itself centered around creating value and meaning in the present, especially around social isolation. Findings challenge existing ageist stereotypes, give insight into interventional design, and highlight the importance of ensuring infrastructural and societal support. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(12), 32-39.].

Current Challenges and Solutions for Clinical Management and Care of People with HIV: Findings from the 12th Annual International HIV and Aging Workshop

People with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) have longer life expectancy and are increasingly experiencing age-related comorbidities. Thus, aging with HIV has become a central issue in clinical care and research, which has been particularly challenging with the intersection of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID)-19 pandemic. Since 2009, the International Workshop on HIV and Aging has served as a multidisciplinary platform to share research findings from cross-disciplinary fields along with community advocates to address critical issues in HIV and aging. In this article, we summarize the key oral presentations from the 12th Annual International Workshop on HIV and Aging, held virtually on September 23rd and 24th, 2021. The topics ranged from basic science research on biological mechanisms of aging to quality of life and delivery of care under the COVID-19 pandemic. This workshop enriched our understanding of HIV and aging under the COVID-19 pandemic, identified challenges and opportunities to combat the impact of COVID-19 on HIV communities, and also provided updated research and future directions of the field to move HIV and aging research forward, with the ultimate goal of successful aging for older people with HIV.

Frailty in older people living with HIV: current status and clinical management

This paper will update care providers on the clinical and scientific aspects of frailty which affects an increasing proportion of older people living with HIV (PLWH). The successful use of combination antiretroviral therapy has improved long-term survival in PLWH. This has increased the proportion of PLWH older than 50 to more than 50% of the HIV population. Concurrently, there has been an increase in the premature development of age-related comorbidities as well as geriatric syndromes, especially frailty, which affects an important minority of older PLWH. As the number of frail older PLWH increases, this will have an important impact on their health care delivery. Frailty negatively affects a PLWH's clinical status, and increases their risk of adverse outcomes, impacting quality of life and health-span. The biologic constructs underlying the development of frailty integrate interrelated pathways which are affected by the process of aging and those factors which accelerate aging. The negative impact of sarcopenia in maintaining musculoskeletal integrity and thereby functional status may represent a bidirectional interaction with frailty in PLWH. Furthermore, there is a growing body of literature that frailty states may be transitional. The recognition and management of related risk factors will help to mitigate the development of frailty. The application of interdisciplinary geriatric management principles to the care of older PLWH allows reliable screening and care practices for frailty. Insight into frailty, increasingly recognized as an important marker of biologic age, will help to understand the diversity of clinical status occurring in PLWH, which therefore represents a fundamentally new and important aspect to be evaluated in their health care.