High frequency of poor locomotor performance in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

One of two adults with controlled HIV infection had poor lower limb muscle performance, which might put this population at risk of falls and fracture. The 5STS test is a simple test that should be recommended to assess muscular performance in HIV care.

Aging with HIV Infection and Locomotors Disorders: Experience of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

“…The characteristics of our population differed from those of Richert et al [5]. Our sample was predominantly female (67.53%) and the median age was 45.4 years, whereas the Bordeaux team studied a group consisting of 80% men with a median age of 47.6 years (IQR=41.8-53.9) [5,13,14]. Most studies show that the prevalence of these disorders is directly related to age [2,9,10].…”

“…Pathological results were found for 28.9% of patients in the "timed up and go" test, 9.7% in the "fivetime sit-to-stand" test and 4.9% in the speed of walking 4 m test. In the study made by Richert et al [5], the test with most frequent alterations was the "five-time sit-to-stand" (53.3%), followed by the "timed up and go" test (10.5%) and standing on one leg with the eyes closed (9.9%).…”

“…Physical activity was scored on the Dijon scale [4]. Functional motor limitations were measured as the level of personal capacity to perform (alone, without technical help) basic actions such as walking, kneeling, using the hands, picking up an object and carrying 5 kg for 10 m. The limitations were scored as performance "without difficulty", "with some difficulty", "with great difficulty" or "cannot do at all" [5]. Locomotor function was assessed in a battery of standardized, validated tests by trained personnel [5][6][7][8]:…”

Ambulatory Function in Men with and without HIV Infection: Association with Cardiorespiratory Fitness

“…First, the results highlight the importance of a HIV uninfected comparison group when investigating non-HIV related outcomes. Several recent functional performance studies, showed reduced 6-MW distance [10,13,19] or LCDW time [14] in HIV-infected adults using normative data. In this study we found no significant difference in the 6-MW distance between HIV-infected on successful ART and uninfected men with similar age-related comorbidity, even with adjustment for BMI.…”

“…Richert et al recently reported poor performance in the six-minute walk (6-MW) in a quarter of 324 HIV-infected adults (median age 48 years) based on normative data, generated by Enright's reference equation using age, sex, weight, and height [10]. Esposito and colleagues found the 6-MW distance to be 5% lower than expected in 27 younger men [11] using the same reference equation [12].…”