Relationship between adiposity and biomarkers of aging and frailty among adults aging with HIV.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the relationships among adiposity, handgrip, physical function, inflammation (i.e., senescence-associated secretory phenotype [SASP] chemokines as biomarkers of aging and frailty), and sex hormones in aging people with HIV (PWH).

METHODS: This cross-sectional exploratory study included 150 PWH aged ≥40 years (67.3% of participants were males). Our measures included: 1) body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference as measures of adiposity; 2) handgrip as a measure of muscle strength; 3) Short Physical Performance Battery as a measure of physical function; 4) interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor II (TNFRII), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), and C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 aka fractalkine as SASP chemokines; and 5) free testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as sex hormones. Quantile regression analyses were used to identify relationships among inflammatory markers and hormones with age, adiposity, handgrip, and physical function.

RESULTS: 74% (n=111) of participants were classified as overweight or obese and 53.3% (n=80) presented with abdominal obesity. After controlling for age and sex, BMI was positively associated with estradiol (β=0.043, p<0.01), and waist circumference was positively associated with hsCRP (β=2.151, p<0.01). After controlling for sex, age was positively associated with CXCL10 (β=0.024, p=0.03) and TNFRII (β=2.205, p=0.01). After controlling for age and sex, SPPB was negatively associated with DHEA (β=-0.004, p=0.01); no statistically significant associations were observed for handgrip.

CONCLUSION: Adiposity levels and aging were associated with inflammation (i.e., CXCL10, TNFRII, and hsCRP) among PWH aged 40 years and older.