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University of Colorado researchers
report that middle-aged HIV-infected people with impaired physical function are
more likely to have “reduced” bone density and muscle mass, and to produce
lower levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein-3
(IGFBP-3) than high-functioning middle-aged HIV-infected people. The
low-functioning patients with these classic aging symptoms also may be more
likely to have diseases typical of old age, according to researchers.
To avoid problems like fractures,
investigators noted the importance of improving bone density, muscle mass, and
hormone levels in middle-aged HIV-infected people with impaired physical
function.
The Colorado study included 81
HIV-infected people of similar age, sex, and duration of HIV infection.
Thirty-three study participants had low physical function; the control group
included 48 high-functioning HIV-infected patients. Study participants had an
average age of 53 and a mean CD4 cell count of approximately 600 cells/mm3.
Almost all participants (96 percent) had a viral load of less than 50
copies/ml.
Differences in the low-functioning
participants and the control group included smoking (half of low-functioning
participants and only 12 percent of the control group), osteopenia or osteoporosis
of the hip (68 percent of low-functioning participants and 33 percent of the
control group), reduced bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (67 percent of
low-functioning participants and 38 percent of the control group), and more
obesity (20 percent of low-functioning participants and 13 percent of control
group. Low-functioning participants were more likely to have less lean muscle
mass. Levels of IGF-1 in low-functioning participants were similar to levels
associated with people ages 70 to 80 in the general population.
The full report, “Functional
Impairment Is Associated with Low Bone and Muscle Mass Among Persons Aging with
HIV Infection,” was published online in the Journal of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndromes” (2013; doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318289bb7e).
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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