Prevalence, factors and quality of life associated with frailty and pre‐frailty in middle‐aged and older adults living with HIV in Zimbabwe: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Objectives We investigated associations between HIV, frailty and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods This cross‐sectional study recruited men and women aged ≥40 years in Zimbabwe. A researcher collected clinical and HRQoL data, and performed physical assessments and HIV testing. Frailty was defined using five criteria: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, low gait speed, low handgrip strength. The presence of three or more criteria defined frailty, one to two pre‐frailty, and zero non‐frail. Data analysis used adjusted regression modelling. Results Of 1034 adults (mean ± SD, 62.0 ± 14.0 years), 21.6% ( n = 223) were living with HIV: 93.3% knew their status, of whom 96.2% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 89.7% of these had a viral load <50 copies/mL. Mean age at HIV diagnosis was 44.6 ± 10.4 years (only 8.1% were ≥70 years), people had been living with HIV for 9.8 ± 5.0 years and had been on ART for 9.4 ± 5.2 years. Overall, HIV was not associated with frailty: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 0.99 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42–2.33 for frailty versus non‐frailty. However, each 5 years lived with HIV was associated with twice the odds of frailty/pre‐frailty (aOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.03–4.13), independent of age and ART duration. Furthermore, each 5 years of ART use was associated with 60% lower odds of frailty/pre‐frailty (aOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19–0.78), independent of age and years lived with HIV. Older age, minimal education and poverty were associated with frailty. Frailty was associated with lower HRQoL in people both with and without HIV. Conclusion Reduced survival and good viral suppression may explain the lack of association between HIV and frailty. Early ART initiation could reduce future risk of frailty.