The association between HIV infection, disability and lifestyle activity among middle-aged and older adults: an analytical cross-sectional study in Ivory Coast (the VIRAGE study)

• Published in: BMC public health 2024-06, Vol.24 (1), p.1549-13, Article 1549
• Main Authors: Debeaudrap, Pierre, Etoundi, Nadine, Tegbe, Joseph, Assoumou, Nelly, Dialo, Zelica, Tanon, Aristophane, Bernard, Charlotte, Bonnet, Fabrice, Aka, Hortense, Coffie, Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Adults; Age; Aged; Aging; Aging (natural); Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; Antiviral agents; Blood & organ donations; Blood pressure; Body Composition; Body mass index; Chronic illnesses; Chronic infection; Comorbidity; Cote d'Ivoire - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing countries; Disability; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Disease; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Exercise; Female; Gait; Grip strength; Health aspects; HIV; HIV infection; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Hypertension; Infections; LDCs; Life Sciences; Life Style; Lifestyles; Male; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Muscle strength; Older people; Overweight; Participation; Physical activity; Prevention; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - epidemiology; Sex; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Participation; STD; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19020-9

People living with HIV (PLWH) live longer and face new health challenges resulting from the confluence of chronic HIV infection and the natural effect of aging and comorbidities. However, there is a dearth of information on the long-term impact of HIV infection on the health and wellbeing of PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa. This research aimed to fill this gap by reporting on physical, functional and social outcomes among PLWH treated at a referral center in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and comparing them with those of a control group. Body composition, functional capacity, sarcopenia, limitations in daily activities and social participation were assessed among 300 PLWH (aged ≥ 30 years) and 200 uninfected adults of similar age and sex. The associations between these outcomes and participants' socioeconomic characteristics, HIV history and physical activity level were assessed using generalized additive models adjusted for age and sex. The median age was 51 years, and the median antiretroviral therapy duration was 15 years. Compared to controls, PLWH reported higher levels of physical activity (p