Muscle Quality and Physical Function in Men With and Without HIV.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) experience faster physical decline than those without HIV (PWoH), despite antiretroviral therapy. We compared skeletal muscle density and area and their relationship with physical function among PWH and PWoH.

Methods: Quantitative computed tomography scans were performed at the L4-L5 spinal region and the thigh to evaluate muscle groups in Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study participants at baseline.

Associations of HIV persistence, cigarette smoking, inflammation, and pulmonary dysfunction in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.

We aimed to investigate the relationship between measures of HIV persistence with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and cigarette smoking, systemic markers of inflammation, and pulmonary function. Retrospective study of 82 people with HIV (PWH) on ART for a median of 6.9 years (5.

Suboptimal HIV suppression is associated with progression of coronary artery stenosis: The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) longitudinal coronary CT angiography study.

Background And Aims: People living with HIV (HIV+) are surviving longer due to effective antiretroviral therapy. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of non-AIDS related clinical events. We determined HIV-related factors associated with coronary artery stenosis progression.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with declines in physical function among men with and without HIV.

Objective: To determine the longitudinal relationships between abnormal glucose metabolism and physical function in persons with HIV (PWH) and without HIV.

Design: Prospective cohort study of men with or at risk for HIV in four United States cities between 2006 and 2018.

Methods: Men with or at risk for HIV from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) had semi-annual assessments of glycemic status, grip strength, and gait speed.

Cardiovascular risk score associations with frailty in men and women with or at risk for HIV.

Objective: To understand the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and frailty among men (MWH) and women living with HIV (WWH), or at risk for HIV.

Design: We considered 10-year coronary heart disease and atherosclerotic CVD risk by Framingham risk score (FRS, 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Program III) and Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE, 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association) in relation to the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS).

Methods: FFP was ascertained in MACS from 2004 to 2019 and in WIHS from 2005 to 2006 and 2011-2019.

Coronary artery plaque progression and cardiovascular risk scores in men with and without HIV-infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores and coronary artery plaque (CAP) progression in HIV-infected participants.

Methods: We studied men with and without HIV-infection enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) CVD study. CAP at baseline and follow-up was assessed with cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Short Communication: Plasma Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Chronic inflammation, including among people with HIV (PWH), elevates immune cell expression of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3); however, low plasma LAG3 predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in the general population. The associations among LAG3 plasma levels, subclinical atherosclerosis, inflammation, and HIV infection have not been well described. We measured plasma LAG3 in 704 men with and without HIV from the multicenter AIDS cohort study, who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography.

Legacy effect on neuropsychological function in HIV-infected men on combination antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To determine whether combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation alters the trajectory of cognitive performance in HIV+ men, and whether cognition prior to cART predicts postcART function.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

The combined effects of age and HIV on the anatomic distribution of cortical and cancellous bone in the femoral neck among men and women.

Objective: To investigate HIV-related and age-related differences in hip bone structure in men and women.

Design: Cross sectional study of bone structure and HIV serostatus.

Methods: We used Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) to examine cortical thickness (CT) and cortical (CBMD), trabecular (TBMD), and integral (IBMD) bone mineral density across anatomic quadrants of the femoral neck in older adult MSM and women with (PWH) and without (PWOH) HIV infection.

Short Communication: Plasma Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 and Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Chronic inflammation, including among people with HIV (PWH), elevates immune cell expression of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3); however, low plasma LAG3 predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in the general population. The associations among LAG3 plasma levels, subclinical atherosclerosis, inflammation, and HIV infection have not been well described. We measured plasma LAG3 in 704 men with and without HIV from the multicenter AIDS cohort study, who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography.

Risk for incident diabetes is greater in prediabetic men with HIV than without HIV.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major comorbidity in people with HIV (PWH). Hyperglycemia below diabetic range defines prediabetes (prediabetes mellitus). We compared the progression from prediabetes mellitus to diabetes mellitus in PWH and people without HIV (PWOH).

Effect of Statin Therapy on Age-Associated Changes in Physical Function Among Men With and Without HIV in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Background: The longer-term risks of statins on physical function among people with HIV are unclear.

Methods: Longitudinal analysis of Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study men between 40 and 75 years of age with ≥2 measures of gait speed or grip strength. Generalized estimating equations with interaction terms between (1) statin use and age and (2) HIV serostatus, age, and statin use were considered to evaluate associations between statin use and physical function.

Application of Selected Muscle Strength and Body Mass Cut Points for the Diagnosis of Sarcopenia in Men and Women With or at Risk for HIV Infection.

Background: Persons with HIV may experience greater mobility limitations than uninfected populations. Accurate tools are needed to identify persons at greatest risk of decline. We evaluated the performance of novel muscle weakness metrics (grip, grip/body mass index [BMI], grip/weight, grip/total body fat, grip/arm lean mass) and association with slowness and falls in older persons with or at risk for HIV infection as part of the work of the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC).

Greater IL-6, D-dimer, and ICAM-1 Levels Are Associated With Lower Small HDL Particle Concentration in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Objective: Low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is common in people living with HIV infection, which is associated with inflammation, and correlates with greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Particles of HDL are HDL subfractions, and in some general population studies, higher small HDL particle number (HDL-P) has been associated with lower CVD risk. The objective of this study was to determine whether HIV serostatus and systemic inflammation were associated with small HDL-P in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).

Association Between Inflammatory Pathways and Phenotypes of Pulmonary Dysfunction Using Cluster Analysis in Persons Living With HIV and HIV-Uninfected Individuals.

Background: Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are at risk of developing different phenotypes of chronic lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mechanisms underlying these phenotypes are unclear.

Objective: To identify clusters of peripheral inflammatory mediators associated with pulmonary function to determine inflammatory pathways and phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in PLWH and HIV-uninfected individuals.

A novel density-volume calcium score by non-contrast CT predicts coronary plaque burden on coronary CT angiography: Results from the MACS (Multicenter AIDS cohort study).

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine if a new score calculated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) density and volume is associated with total coronary artery plaque burden and composition on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) compared to the Agatston score (AS).

Methods: We identified 347 men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS cohort study who underwent contrast and non-contrast CCTs, and had CAC>0. CAC densities (mean Hounsfield Units [HU]) per plaque) and volumes on non-contrast CCT were measured.

Associations between QT interval subcomponents, HIV serostatus, and inflammation.

Background: The total QT interval comprises both ventricular depolarization and repolarization currents. Understanding how HIV serostatus and other risk factors influence specific QT interval subcomponents could improve our mechanistic understanding of arrhythmias.

Methods: Twelve-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were acquired in 774 HIV-infected (HIV+) and 652 HIV-uninfected (HIV-) men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Cross-sectional analysis of cognitive function using multivariate normative comparisons in men with HIV disease.

Background: Prevalence estimates of cognitive impairment in HIV disease vary widely. Here we used multivariate normative comparison (MNC) with identify individuals with impaired cognition, and to compare the results with those using the Frascati and Gisslén criteria.

Methods: The current project used data collected before October 2014 from bisexual/gay men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Risk Factors for Falls, Falls With Injury, and Falls With Fracture Among Older Men With or at Risk of HIV Infection.

Background: Falls and fall risk factors are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). We sought to identify fall risk factors among men with and without HIV.

Methods: Men aged 50-75 years with (n = 279) and without HIV (n = 379) from the Bone Strength Substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were included.

Lung Function, Coronary Artery Disease, and Mortality in HIV.

Impaired lung function is a potent independent predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in individuals without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; however, the relationship between lung function and CAD in HIV remains undefined. To examine the relationship between lung function, CAD, mortality, and circulating biomarkers in HIV. Spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dl), emphysema, coronary artery calcium, mortality, cause of death, and biomarkers were examined in HIV-infected and uninfected individuals enrolled in a cohort study at the University of Pittsburgh.