Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with frailty measurements in HIV-infected and uninfected Veterans

OBJECTIVE:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence is increasing among aging HIV-infected individuals. We determined the association between COPD and self-reported measures of frailty [adapted frailty-related phenotype (aFRP)] and physical limitation, and a clinical biomarker of physiologic frailty [Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index] in HIV-infected compared with uninfected individuals. DESIGN:Cross-sectional study of VACS participants between 2002 and 2012. METHODS:Prefrail/aFRP was obtained from self-reported surveys. Prefrail was defined as 1–2 domains of physical shrinking, exhaustion, slowness and low physical activity; aFRP was defined as at least 3 domains. Physical limitation scale was determined from 12 self-reported survey items assessing limitations performing physical activities. VACS index includes age and laboratory measurements. We used regression models to test for associations between COPD and outcomes in models stratified by HIV status. RESULTS:The sample included 3538 HIV-infected and 3606 uninfected participants; 67 and 63% were black (P = 0.0003), 97 and 92% were men (P