Sex disparities in geriatric syndromes among people 50 years or older receiving care for HIV infection in Mexico (2012-2017): a cross-sectional, observational study

We compared the frequency of geriatric syndromes and comorbidities between women and men over 50 years of age receiving HIV care in Mexico and explore their associated characteristics. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2012 to 2017 in Mexico. We assessed non-communicable diseases (NCDs), disability, depressive symptoms, neurocognitive impairment, frailty, polypharmacy, falls, and visual and hearing impairment. We compared the prevalence of these syndromes by sex. We fitted multivariate logistic models to identify the association of sex with the presence of NCDs and geriatric syndromes. We enrolled 616 participants, including 114 (18.5%) women. Women were older (median 57 vs 56yo, p = 0.032) and had lower educational attainment (6 vs 12 y, p < 0.001) than men. There were no sex differences in current viral suppression (86% vs 85%, p = 0.78) and median CD4 cell counts (508 vs 458, p = 0.27). Women had a higher prevalence of any NCDs (67% vs 55%, p = 0.02); falls: (44% vs 26%, p < 0.001); depressive symptoms (15% vs 7.6%, p = 0.02), and frailty (9.6% vs 3.2%, p = 0.047) than men. In adjusted analyses, women had higher odds of frailty (aOR 4.38, 95%CI 1.7-11.0, p = 0.01), falls (aOR: 1.97, 95% CI : 1.18-3.28, p < 0.01), NCDs (aOR: 2.03, 95%CI : 1.27-3.23, p < 0.01) and depression (aOR: 2,35, 95%CI: 1.17-4.61, p < 0.01). Older women living with HIV in Mexico experience a high prevalence of overweight/obesity, falls, comorbidity, depressive symptoms, frailty, and disability disproportionately affect women. Women were at higher risk of frailty, falls, comorbidity, and depressive symptoms, independently of age, current CD4 cell counts and education level.