Frailty and Aging with HIV
One of the results of accelerated aging in People Living with HIV (PLWH) is early onset of frailty due to background viral replication and inflammation. Every adult is susceptible to frailty as they age, we just tend to see it earlier. So what exactly is Frailty? What is Prefrailty?
Frailty is a distinct clinical syndrome in older adults characterized by a decline in physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, resulting in a higher risk of adverse health outcomes. It is marked by weakness, fatigue, slow walking speed, and reduced physical activity, often leading to falls, hospitalization, and loss of independence.
Prefrailty is a reversible, high-risk state preceding full frailty, characterized by the presence of one or two of the five Fried criteria (unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed, low activity). It represents a "clinically silent" phase of physiological decline where intervention can prevent further deterioration, falls, and disability in older adults.
According to a recent article in POZ magazine: “The lifetime health, mortality and economic toll of frailty and falls is likely to be substantial as the HIV population ages, according to an analysis published in JAMA Network Open. The modeling study estimated that falls could lead to more than 180,000 lost life-years and over $3 billion in lifetime costs, while the cost of frailty could approach $9 billion.”
https://www.poz.com/article/frailty-falls-high-cost-people-hiv
So what can we do about this? While there is no real cure, there are ways to delay the onset of frailty. First, make sure your medical team is assessing you for signs of prefrailty or full frailty. Being aware is key to managing some of the effects of this. Second, take action NOW to prevent or delay the onset of frailty. The best medicine here is (you’ll be surprised to hear me say this) EXERCISE!
Again from the POZ article: “In terms of prevention, exercise is “one of the most effective frailty interventions,” they noted. Although research on people with HIV are limited, one small study found that 24 weeks of moderate- or high-intensity exercise decreased the prevalence of prefrailty from 75% at baseline to 44%.”
Good nutrition is also key to quality of life and maintaining good health. This is why POZabilities is investing in the Healthy Living Program to provide opportunities to take control of your health and work to have a long healthy life while delaying the onset of frailty.
Even if you don’t take advantage of the programs we provide, studies have shown that 4000-6000 steps a day are enough to make a measurable difference - and it gives you a chance to explore your neighborhood or our parks. Be active!
