Frailty among older Hispanics living in the United States: A scoping review

A scoping review was conducted to identify the available evidence about frailty among older Hispanics living in the U.S. using the Integral Model of Frailty. A not time-limited search was conducted in five peer-reviewed databases. Identified factors associated with frailty among older Hispanics are presented in four categories: (1) Characteristics and prevalence of frailty, (2) Life course determinants of frailty, (3) Comorbidities associated with frailty, and (4) Adverse outcomes of frailty. A total of 1030 articles were identified, and 37 articles were included in the scoping review. Most studies measured frailty based on the Fried Frailty Phenotype (59.5%, n= 22) and had a longitudinal design (64.9%, n= 24). The overall prevalence of frailty among Hispanics ranged from 4.3% to 37.1% (n= 20 studies). Further research is needed that targets Hispanics from different backgrounds in the U.S., particularly those that are high in number (i.e., Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Central Americans).

HIV-related symptoms and patient clusters among Chileans living with HIV

Identifying both Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related and co-morbid symptoms experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) who are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment is a major challenge for healthcare providers globally. Yet, little research to date has examined the symptoms of illness experienced by PLWH including patients living in Central and South American. To address this gap, this study was designed to identify symptoms of HIV by socio-demographic and/or clinical characteristics among Chilean patients living with the virus. A convenience sample of 209 Chilean PLWH was recruited from an outpatient clinic in Santiago, Chile. A structured interview was used to elicit socio-demographic information and HIV symptoms status. Additional clinical information was obtained through a review of the participants' medical records. Results show that patients' most commonly reported HIV-related symptoms were fear/worries (66%), anxiety (52%), gas/bloating (50%), and thirst (50%). Multivariate analysis revealed a positive association between the number of reported HIV-related symptoms and number of years living with HIV. Having completed college was negatively associated with number of symptoms. Latent class analysis indicated that PLWH in the sample who had completed college were two times more likely to experience a mild intensity of HIV-related symptoms than their lesser educated counterparts. Similarly, logistic regression revealed that college-educated PLWH were twice as likely to be classified in the subgroup reporting mild intensity of symptoms than those who lacked a college degree. Overall, the study's results reveal that many Chilean PLWH, even those with high CD4 counts and low or undetectable viral loads, are not symptom free. The findings point to the need for clinicians to tailor a plan of care for individuals living with HIV that is based on their symptomatology.