Rates of aging-related comorbidities, which require targeted medications to treat, have been shown to be increased among persons living with HIV compared with uninfected counterparts. Polypharmacy is generally defined as the concurrent use of 5 or more medications. We investigated polypharmacy prevalence for non-HIV medications over a 12-year period among HIV-positive and -negative participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Information regarding non-HIV medication use, HIV status, age, race/ethnicity, enrollment period, and medication insurance was obtained on 3,160 participants from semiannual visits between 2004 and 2016. Polypharmacy was defined as taking 5 or more non-HIV medications since the last health care visit. Generalized estimating equation models with repeated measures were produced overall and by HIV status to examine polypharmacy. The unadjusted prevalence of polypharmacy across all study visits was 18.6% and was higher among HIV-positive participants (24.4%) compared with HIV-negative participants (11.6%) (P < .0001). Among the 50 years and older age group, HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants had increases in polypharmacy over the observation period, from 38.4% to 46.8% (P = .0081) and from 16.7% to 46.0% (P < .0001), respectively. Among participants younger than 50, polypharmacy among HIV-positive participants remained stable (18.9% in 2004 to 17.3% in 2016; P = .5374) but increased among HIV-negative men (5.6% to 20.4%; P < .0001). After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and medication insurance, HIV-positive participants had a higher prevalence of polypharmacy than HIV-negative participants (25.3% vs 18.7%; P < .0001). Older age, white race, and having medication insurance coverage were also associated with greater polypharmacy. A convergence of polypharmacy prevalence was observed between HIV-positive and -negative participants at the end of observation. HIV-positive status was associated with an increased likelihood of polypharmacy, after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, enrollment period, medication insurance, and study visit. Over time, polypharmacy prevalence increased among all participants, with converging rates between HIV-positive and -negative participants by the end of the observation period.

Background and Objectives Conversion therapies to minimize same-sex attractions are classified as a dangerous practice by numerous scientific institutions in the United States. These practices may contribute to poor long-term psychosocial health, thereby interrupting processes of healthy aging. Few studies have examined psychosocial differences between persons with and without prior experiences of conversion therapy. We assessed associations between prior conversion therapy experiences and psychosocial health among midlife and older men who have sex with men (MSM; age 40+ years). Research Design and Methods Participants included a multicity sample of MSM (N = 1156) enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study completed health surveys (2016-2019) as part of their bi-annual study visits. Using multivariable regressions, we investigated the associations of prior conversion therapy with current depressive symptoms, internalized homophobia, post-traumatic stress, and cumulative psychosocial conditions. Using a trait-level measure (e.g., life purpose and perseverance), we tested whether resilience moderated these associations. Results The full sample was predominantly Non-Hispanic White with a mean age of 62.6 years. Fifteen percent of men (n = 171/1156) reported prior conversion therapy. In multivariable models, men exposed to conversion therapy were more likely to have depressive symptoms and above-average internalized homophobia. Men exposed to conversion therapy had 2 to 2.5 times the odds of reporting 1 and ≥2 psychosocial conditions, respectively, compared with those who reported 0 conditions. Resilience did not moderate these associations. Discussion and Implications Conversion therapies are non-affirming social stressors for MSM and may compromise critical psychosocial aspects of healthy aging among MSM.

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Objective: To explore whether individuals who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed food have more adverse mental health symptoms. Design: Using a cross-sectional design, we measured the consumption of ultra-processed foods as a percentage of total energy intake in kilo-calories using the NOVA food classification system. We explored whether individuals who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed food were more likely to report mild depression, more mentally unhealthy days and more anxious days per month using multivariable analyses adjusting for potential confounding variables. Setting: Representative sample from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2012. Participants: 10,359 adults aged 18+ without a history of cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin use. Results: After adjusting for covariates, individuals with the highest level of ultra-processed food consumption were significantly more likely to report at least mild depression (OR 1.81; 95% CI: 1.09-3.02), more mentally unhealthy (RR 1.22; 95% CI: 1.18-1.25), and more anxious days per month. (RR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.16-1.23). They were also significantly less likely to report zero mentally unhealthy (OR 0.60; 95% CI: 0.41-0.88) or anxious days (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.47-0.90). Conclusions: Individuals reporting higher intakes of ultra-processed food were significantly more likely to report mild depression, more mentally unhealthy and more anxious days, and less likely to report zero mentally unhealthy or anxious days. These data add important information to a growing body of evidence concerning the potential adverse effects of ultra-processed food consumption on mental health.

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