engleski

Falls but not frailty are common in people living with HIV using an mHealth platform: issues of ageing within the EmERGE cohort

Mobile technology platforms represent a method of streamlining long-term HIV care, yet they may fail to address broader health issues such as agerelated conditions. Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of frailty and falls among stable individuals with HIV engaged with remote healthcare, delivered via a novel smartphone application. Method: Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based sub-study of EmERGE participants. Frailty was assessed using the FRAIL scale, a five-item selfreport screening tool. Present criteria were summed (range 0–5) and catergorized: 0=robust, 1–2=pre-frail, ≥3 frail. Falls and their frequency were assessed and dichotomised to faller/non-faller and single/recurrent falls. Results: 944 individuals participated across five European study sites. Mean age was 44.6 years (SD 9.9), with 33% aged>50. 92% were male, 79% were of Caucasian ethnicity. Full frailty data were available for 891/944 (94%). Three quarters were robust (74%, 663/891) ; 25% (219/891) pre-frail ; and 9 frail (1%). Of the frailty criteria, fatigue was most frequently reported (13%) followed by unintentional weight loss (12%), problems with walking (6%) and stairs (5%). Only 2 participants reported>4 comorbidities. Demographic data were available for 6/9 frail individuals: 83.3% were aged>50 ; all were male. 120/940 (13%) participants had fallen in the last year. Fallers experienced a median of 2 falls (IQR 1–3), with 59% (68/116) falling recurrently (≥2falls). Fallers were on average 3.1 years older than non-fallers (95% CI 1.2–5.1), with a greater proportion aged>50 (44% vs 31%, p=0.005). Falls were more common in frail (5 vs 1%) and pre-frail individuals (43 vs 22%). Conclusion: Ageing issues were relatively uncommon in this cohort. Frailty was rare, with pre-frailty seen in 25%. Falls occurred and often recurred, and were related to frailty status and older age. Opportunities to explore ageing concerns with patients should be retained within mHealth delivered care and comprehensive geriatric assessment considered if identified.

HIV ; mHealth platform ; EmERGE cohort

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