Objectives To evaluate the relationships between body composition and physical frailty in community-dwelling HIV-infected older adults (HOA). Design Cross-sectional. Setting Academic hospital-based infectious disease clinic in Rochester NY Participants Community-dwelling HIV-infected adults >50 years of age. Measurements Subjective and objective measures of functional status were evaluated by using the Physical Performance Test (PPT), graded treadmill test, knee strength, gait speed, balance and Functional Status Questionnaires (FSQ). Body composition was evaluated by using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Results We studied 40 HOA on antiretroviral therapy (with mean: age 58 years, BMI 29, CD4 569 cells/ml, duration since HIV diagnosis 17 years; 28% female and 57% Caucasian) who were able to ambulate without assistive devices. Sixty percent (25/40) of the subjects met our standard criteria for physical frailty. Both frail (FR) and non-frail (NF) subjects were comparable in age, gender, CD4 count and viral load. Compared to NF HOA, FR HOA showed impairments in PPT, peak aerobic power (VO2peak), FSQ, walking speed, balance and muscle quality. Importantly, FR HOA had greater body mass index (BMI), fat mass and truncal fat with lipodystrophy. Moreover, PPT score was inversely related to both trunk fat (r=−0.34; p=0.045) and intermuscular fat (IMF) to total fat ratio (r=−60; p=0.02) after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion HOA represent an emerging cohort of older adults who frequently experience frailty at a much younger age compared to the general older population. Central obesity and fat redistribution are important predictors of frailty among community-dwelling HOA. These findings suggest that physical frailty in HOA may be amenable to lifestyle interventions, especially exercise and diet therapy.

SummaryMany antioxidants have been suggested as potential treatments for Friedreich ataxia, but have not been tested in clinical trials. We found that a majority of patients in our cohort already use such antioxidants, including idebenone, which is not available at a pharmaceutical grade in the United States. Younger age, cardiomyopathy and shorter GAA repeat length were independent predictors of idebenone use, but no factors predicted use of other antioxidants. This confirms that nonprescription antioxidant use represents a major confounder to formal trials of existing and novel agents for Friedreich ataxia.

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID) is a key component of elimination models but PWID face substantial barriers to treatment access. Despite data showing treatment outcomes among PWID on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are similar to non-PWID outcomes, few studies examine PWID treatment outcomes with only syringe services support. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of recruitment for HCV treatment with elbasvir/grazoprevir (E/G) in a syringe services program (SSP) as compared to an MOUD program for people with opioid use disorder. Methods: This real-world, multi-site prospective open-label pilot study compares treatment of PWID with aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio (APRI) < 0.7 and genotype 1a, 1b, and 4 HCV with E/G, engaged in MOUD (n = 25) or an SSP (n = 25). The MOUD arm was enrolled through a federally qualified community health center and SSP arm through a nearby SSP. Prospective arms were compared to an academic hepatology clinic group (n = 50). Sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12), medication adherence, and treatment discontinuation were evaluated. Results: In the MOUD vs SSP arms, substance use throughout treatment was found in 36% (9/25) vs 100% (25/25); good adherence (> 90% pills taken) in 100% (25/25) vs 68% (17/25); treatment completion 100% (25/25) vs 64% (16/25); and SVR12 rates were 96% (24/25) vs 60% (15/25). In the community standard comparison group, SVR12 was achieved in 94% (47/50). There were two virologic failures or re-infections in the SSP group; all other non-responders were due to missing SVR12 data. Conclusions: While recruitment and follow-up are challenging in SSPs, preliminary data suggests adherence, treatment completion, and SVR12 are high in PWID treated with E/G engaging in SSP or MOUD. All metrics are comparable to community standards for non-PWID for treatment of HCV with direct-antiviral drugs.

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