title: HIV-Related Frailty Is Not Characterized by Sarcopenia.
abstract: Frailty is common in HIV-infected patients, but its causes are elusive. We assessed 122 clinic patients for frailty using the 5-measure Fried Frailty criteria. The prevalence of frailty was 19% (n = 23) and all frail patients reported exhaustion with a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score >16 indicating depression. The next most common criterion was low physical activity (expenditure of kcal/week). Markers of sarcopenia such as decreased grip strength and decreased gait speed, hallmarks of frailty in the elderly, were the least common of the 5 criteria. Frailty was reversible: 6 frail patients returned for reassessment and only 2 were frail. We conclude that frailty in the HIV-infected patients is potentially reversible and strongly associated with depression and low physical activity, whereas frailty in the elderly is associated with aging-related sarcopenia and is often irreversible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Hilary Caitlyn
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.affiliation: Arizona Center for Aging, University of Arizona.
authors.forename: Martha Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mohler
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA sklotz@u.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Klotz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; depression; frailty; inactivity; sarcopenia