Background: In 2019, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) proposed low muscle strength as the primary outcome for sarcopenia diagnosis instead of low muscle mass, as proposed in 2010 (EWGSOP1). Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia using both EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 operational definitions in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and to determine the agreement and correlation between different tests proposed by EWGSOP2. Setting: Cross-sectional study, where 302 PLHIV (151 men), 51.7 ± 9.0 years old were evaluated for the presence of sarcopenia using both EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 operational definitions. Methods: Appendicular skeletal muscle was estimated using bioimpedance analysis. Handgrip strength, chair stand, gait speed, and static balance were used as muscle function measures. Agreement was determined using Cohen kappa and Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated. Results: Sarcopenia prevalence was 4.3% using EWGSOP1 and 1.0% using EWGSOP2. Agreement for sarcopenia diagnosis between EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 was fair (k = 0.37, P < 0.01). From the 13 cases of sarcopenia diagnosed using EWGSOP1, only 3 cases (23.1%) were also diagnosed using EWGSOP2. A medium correlation (r = −0.32, P < 0.01) and poor agreement (k = 0.14, P < 0.01) between muscle strength tests (handgrip strength and chair stand) were observed. Concordance between handgrip and chair stand was observed in 11 participants only, whereas 65 participants were considered to have low muscle strength using chair stand but not using handgrip. Conclusions: Lower sarcopenia prevalence using EWGSOP2 and low agreement between EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2 operational definitions in diagnosing sarcopenia were observed in PLHIV.

Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs commonly used among people with HIV, associated with an increased risk of myopathies. Considering that cardiovascular disease, statin therapy, and sarcopenia are independently prevalent in people with HIV, clarity on the potential benefits or harms of statin therapy on muscle health is useful to provide insight into ways to maximize skeletal muscle health and minimize CVD risk in this population. We aimed to study the effects of statin therapy on strength, muscle mass, and physical function parameters in people with HIV. This was a pilot cross-sectional study. People with HIV on continuous statin therapy (n = 52) were paired 1:1 according to age (people with HIV 53.9 ± 8.2 and people with HIV on statins 53.9 ± 8.4 years), sex, body mass index (Body mass index, people with HIV 28.6 ± 5.3 and people with HIV on statins 28.8 ± 6.3 kg/m2), and race with people with HIV not using statin (n = 52). Participants were evaluated for muscle strength (i.e. handgrip strength), lean and fat body mass (using bioelectric impedance analysis), and physical function (i.e. Short Physical Performance Battery—SPPB). Isokinetic strength and appendicular lean mass (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), more accurate strength and body composition measures, were determined in 38% of the participants. Overall, statin usage does not exacerbated loss of muscle strength (32.2 ± 11.5 vs. 30.3 ± 9.6 kg, p > 0.05) muscle mass (7.6 ± 1.8 vs. 7.7 ± 1.1 kg/m2, p > 0.05), and impaired physical performance (10.1 ± 1.8 vs. 9.7 ± 2.1 points, p > 0.05) of PLWH. When analyzed by sex, men living with HIV on statins usage presented higher appendicular muscle mass (28.4 ± 3.1 vs. 26.2 ± 4.9 kg, p < 0.05) handgrip strength (42.1 ± 8.8 vs. 37.1 ± 8.3 kg, p < 0.05) and physical function through SPPB score (10.9 ± 1.3 vs. 9.5 ± 2.1, p < 0.05) than men living with HIV not on statins treatment. The same protection was not observed in women. This data was demonstrated when muscle mass and strength were determined clinically (i.e. handgrip strength and electrical impedance) and when more precise laboratory measurements of muscle mass and strength were conducted (i.e. isokinetic strength and DXA scans). Statin does not exacerbate muscle wasting, strength loss, or muscle dysfunction among people with HIV. Indeed, statins may protect men, but not woman with HIV against HIV and antiretroviral therapy-induced loss of muscle mass and strength.

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