Specialist care of older adults with HIV infection in the UK: a service evaluation

KNUST aging and human immunodeficiency virus outcomes-Study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Globally, 7 million people with HIV (PWH) aged over 50 years exist. 5 million of them live in sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the HIV epidemic. In Ghana, every 1 in 6 PWH is aged over 50 years. However, access to geriatric health care is grossly limited in Ghana and the sub-Saharan Africa region. This has resulted in a lack of focus on geriatric syndromes, a multi-factorial clinical condition common in older PWH, that do not fit discrete disease categories. Consequently, this gap threatens the life expectancy for aging PWH, necessitating the need to promptly fill it. The KNUST Aging and HIV Outcomes (KAHO) study will help identify priorities and opportunities for developing an effective integrated model of HIV and geriatric healthcare in Ghana.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The KAHO study will recruit 151 PWH aged 50 years and older at the Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) of the University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The study will be conducted over a 2-year period and participants will be seen at months 0, 6 and 12. Participants at each visit will be taken through assessments and questionnaires on geriatric health, cognition, social vulnerability, HIV-related conditions and they will provide biospecimens for laboratory testing. We will also conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews of PWH, healthcare providers, policy makers and study research assistants. Quantitative data will be analyzed using one sample proportion test and linear regression models appropriately. The Levesque's framework will be used as a guide to analyze qualitative data.

Exploring implementation considerations for geriatric-HIV clinics: A secondary analysis from a scoping review on HIV models of geriatric care

OBJECTIVES

This review aimed to map the current state of knowledge regarding the implementation considerations of existing geriatric-HIV models of care, to identify areas of further research and to inform the implementation of future geriatric-HIV interventions that support older adults living with HIV.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review that was methodologically informed by the Arskey and O'Malley's 5 step framework and theoretically informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A systematic search of six databases was conducted for peer-reviewed literature. The grey literature was also searched. Article screening was performed in duplicate. Data was extracted for the purpose of this secondary analysis using a data extraction template informed by the CFIR. Data was inductively and deductively analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. The models of care described varied in terms of their location and setting, the number and type of care providers involved, the mechanism of patient referral, the type of assessments and interventions performed and the methods of longitudinal patient follow-up. Four key categories emerged to describe factors that influenced their implementation: care provider buy-in, patient engagement, mechanisms of communication and collaboration, and available resources.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this scoping review provide an initial understanding of the key factors to consider when implementing geriatric-HIV models of care. We recommend health system planners consider mechanisms of communication and collaboration, opportunities for care provider buy-in, patient engagement and available resources. Future research should explore implementation in more diverse settings to understand the nuances that influence implementation and care delivery.

Understanding geriatric models of care for older adults living with HIV: a scoping review and qualitative analysis

BACKGROUND

Advances in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment have reduced mortality rates and consequently increased the number of individuals with HIV living into older age. Despite this, people aged 50 years and older have been left behind in recent HIV treatment and prevention campaigns, and a gold-standard model of care for this population has not yet been defined. Developing evidence-based geriatric HIV models of care can support an accessible, equitable, and sustainable HIV health care system that ensures older adults have access to care that meets their needs now and in the future.

METHODS

Guided by Arksey & O'Malley (2005)'s methodological framework, a scoping review was conducted to determine the key components of, identify gaps in the literature about, and provide recommendations for future research into geriatric models of care for individuals with HIV. Five databases and the grey literature were systematically searched. The titles, abstracts and full texts of the search results were screened independently in duplicate. Data were analyzed using a qualitative case study and key component analysis approach to identify necessary model components.

RESULTS

5702 studies underwent title and abstract screening, with 154 entering full-text review. 13 peer-reviewed and 0 grey literature sources were included. Most articles were from North America. We identified three primary model of care components that may improve the successful delivery of geriatric care to people living with HIV: Collaboration and Integration; Organization of Geriatric Care; and Support for Holistic Care. Most articles included some aspects of all three components.

CONCLUSION

To provide effective geriatric care to older persons living with HIV, health services and systems are encouraged to use an evidence-based framework and should consider incorporating the distinct model of care characteristics that we have identified in the literature. However, there is limited data about models in developing countries and long-term care settings, and limited knowledge of the role of family, friends and peers in supporting the geriatric care of individuals living with HIV. Future evaluative research is encouraged to determine the impact of optimal components of geriatric models of care on patient outcomes.

Silver Clinic: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of comprehensive geriatric assessment for people living with HIV and frailty

INTRODUCTION

Many people ageing with HIV are also living with multiple comorbidities and geriatric syndromes including frailty and cognitive deterioration. These complex needs can be challenging to meet within existing HIV care services. This study investigates the acceptability and feasibility of screening for frailty and of using a comprehensive geriatric assessment approach, delivered via the Silver Clinic, to support people living with HIV affected by frailty.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Mixed-methods, parallel-group, randomised, controlled feasibility trial aiming to recruit 84 people living with HIV≥50, identified as frail. Participants will be recruited from the HIV unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to receive usual HIV care or the Silver Clinic intervention, which uses a comprehensive geriatric assessment approach. Psychosocial, physical and service use outcomes will be measured at baseline, 26 weeks and 52 weeks. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with a subset of participants from both arms. Primary outcome measures include recruitment and retention rates and completion of clinical outcome measures. These will be used in conjunction with a priori progression criteria and the qualitative data (acceptability of trial procedures and intervention) to determine the feasibility and design of a definitive trial.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by East Midlands-Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee (reference 21/EM/0200). All participants will receive written information about the study and be required to provide informed consent. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals, conferences and community engagement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN14646435.

How do geriatricians feel about managing older people living with HIV? A scoping review

Aim

To identify what evidence exists regarding how geriatricians feel about managing older people living with HIV.

Findings

Currently whilst geriatricians are willing to contribute to the care of older people living with HIV, they lack the experience and training to take a prominent role.

Message

Incorporating education about HIV care into geriatric medicine curricula and the formation of quality clinical practice guidelines is required to prepare geriatricians to help participate in the care of older people living with HIV.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-022-00642-4.

Purpose

The proportion of people living with HIV being older adults is increasing and due to high rates of multimorbidity and frailty within this group geriatricians are well placed to contribute to their care. However, little is known about how geriatricians feel about this new opportunity.

Methods

A scoping review was performed following the Arksey & O’Malley’s methodological framework with nine databases searched in December 2021 for studies reporting the experiences or views of geriatricians on caring for people living with HIV. Study inclusion was not limited by language or year of publication. Narrative reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently performed the extraction using predetermined criteria. A descriptive analysis of extracted information was performed.

Results

Six publications reporting four studies, all conducted in the USA, were identified. The current barriers to geriatricians being involved in the care of older people living with HIV are: their current experience in managing people living with HIV, their knowledge of HIV, specific issues related to older people living with HIV and screening for HIV in older people as well as their attitudes to people living with HIV and experience of managing older LGBTQ + people.

Conclusion

Prior to geriatricians being routinely involved in the care of older people living with HIV further research outside of the USA is required. Geriatricians will also require specific training which should be incorporated into geriatric medicine training curricula as well as the creation of learning tools and quality clinical practice guidelines ideally created in collaboration with HIV organisations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41999-022-00642-4.

What problems associated with ageing are seen in a specialist service for older people living with HIV?

OBJECTIVES

By 2030 the majority of the people living with HIV in the United Kingdom will be over the age of 50. HIV services globally must adapt to manage people living with HIV as they age. Currently these services are often designed based on data from the wider population or from the experiences of HIV clinicians. This article aims to help clinicians designing inclusive HIV services by presenting the most common needs identified during the first year of a specialist clinic for older people living with HIV at the Ian Charleson Day Centre, Royal Free Hospital in London, United Kingdom.

METHODS

The records of all thirty-five patients attending the inaugural nine sessions were reviewed.

RESULTS

The median age of attendees was 69 (53-93) with 77% being male, 63% being White, 49% being heterosexual and 97% being virally suppressed respectively. The majority (83%) met the criteria for frailty using the Fried frailty phenotype. Eighteen issues linked to ageing were identified with the most common being affective symptoms (51%), memory loss (37%) and falls (29%).

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst older people living with HIV are a heterogeneous group frailty is common and appears to present earlier. HIV services either need to adapt to meet these additional needs or must support users in transitioning to existing services. We feel that our multidisciplinary model is successful in identifying problems associated with ageing in people living with HIV and could be successfully replicated elsewhere.

Evaluation of a Combined HIV and Geriatrics Clinic for Older People Living with HIV: The Silver Clinic in Brighton, UK

As life expectancy in people living with HIV (PLWH) has increased, the focus of management has shifted to preventing and treating chronic illnesses, but few services exist for the assessment and management of these individuals. Here, we provide an initial description of a geriatric service for people living with HIV and present data from a service evaluation undertaken in the clinic. We conducted an evaluation of the first 52 patients seen in the clinic between 2016 and 2019. We present patient demographic data, assessment outcomes, diagnoses given, and interventions delivered to those seen in the clinic. The average age of attendees was 67. Primary reasons for referral to the clinic included management of complex comorbidities, polypharmacy, and suspected geriatric syndrome (falls, frailty, poor mobility, or cognitive decline). The median (range) number of comorbidities and comedications (non-antiretrovirals) was 7 (2–19) and 9 (1–15), respectively. All attendees had an undetectable viral load. Geriatric syndromes were observed in 26 (50%) patients reviewed in the clinic, with frailty and mental health disease being the most common syndromes. Interventions offered to patients included combination antiretroviral therapy modification, further health investigations, signposting to rehabilitation or social care services, and in-clinic advice. High levels of acceptability among patients and healthcare professionals were reported. The evaluation suggests that specialist geriatric HIV services might play a role in the management of older people with HIV with geriatric syndromes.

Monitoring of older HIV-1-positive adults by HIV clinics in the United Kingdom: a national quality improvement initiative

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to describe a UK-wide process to assess adherence to guidelines for the routine investigation and monitoring of HIV-positive adults aged ≥ 50 years and provide clinical services with individual feedback to support improvement in quality of care.

METHODS

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) invited HIV clinical care sites to provide retrospective data from case notes of up to 40 adults aged ≥ 50 years with HIV-1 infection attending the clinic for care during 2017 and/or 2018, using a structured dynamic online questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 4959 questionnaires from 141 clinical services were returned. Regarding the key targets specified in the BHIVA monitoring guidelines, 97% of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) had had their viral load measured in the last 9 months, or 15 months if on a protease inhibitor, and 94% had had all medications recorded in the last 15 months. Only 67% of patients on ART without cardiovascular disease (CVD) had had a 10-year CVD risk calculated in the last 3 years. It was reported that 80% and 92% had had their smoking status documented in the last 2 years and blood pressure checked in the last 15 months, respectively. HIV services had communicated with the general practitioners of 90% of consenting individuals, but consulted electronic primary care records for only 10%.

CONCLUSIONS

Nationally, targets were met for viral load and blood pressure monitoring but not for CVD risk assessment, smoking status documentation and recording of comedication. There was variable performance in relation to other outcomes; adherence and laboratory measurements were carried out more regularly than lifestyle and wellbeing assessments.

Frailty: a new vulnerability indicator in people aging with HIV

PURPOSE

To review the concept of frailty and its measurement, describe the existing data on frailty in people living with HIV, examine the limits of frailty as a marker of vulnerability in people living with HIV, and explore how frailty measurement could be incorporated into HIV care.

METHODS

Narrative literature review.

RESULTS

Frailty is an emerging marker of vulnerability that is increasingly being assessed among people aging with HIV. Which frailty measurement tool is best for people with HIV has not yet been established, and likely depends on clinical context. Evaluation of vulnerability should take into account social and structural factors. Frailty assessment can be incorporated into clinical care as a part of comprehensive geriatric assessment. Models of HIV-geriatric care are being established.

CONCLUSIONS

As a group, people with HIV are aging and increasingly face multiple interacting age-related medical and social problems. It requires remarkable resilience to age successfully with HIV. The clinical care of people aging with HIV could benefit from a focus on frailty and related social vulnerability to better understand patients' needs and develop appropriate goals and care plans.