Impact of Food Insecurity and Undernutrition on Frailty and Physical Functioning in Aging People With HIV in the United States.
Christine Horvat Davey, Brianna Navis, Allison R Webel and 5 others
PMID 36752748WHAT IT FOUND
In 48 older people with HIV, food insecurity was linked to poorer balance, chair rise, and mobility scores; undernutrition was linked to frailty and weaker grip.
This pilot cannot show these factors caused the impairments.
Key findings
01Food insecure participants had significantly lower Short Physical Performance Battery, balance, and chair rise scores, took longer to complete chair rises, and reported more weight loss in the past 12 months.
02Undernourished participants were significantly more frail and had significantly lower grip strength, while other physical function measures did not differ significantly.
03Twenty-three percent were frail and 69% were pre-frail; 44% experienced food insecurity and 71% experienced undernutrition.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 48 participants completed all measures, from one clinic, so the findings are fragile. The design was cross-sectional and used convenience sampling, so it cannot show that food insecurity or undernutrition caused frailty or low physical function. The sample was mostly male and white, so results may not apply to women or other groups. Income and urban or rural residence were not collected, so other drivers of food insecurity may not be accounted for. It was a pilot study, not a test of an intervention.
Declared interests
The authors report no real or perceived vested interests related to the article that could be construed as a conflict of interest. The paper notes REDCap tools were hosted with NIH/NCATS Colorado CTSA grant support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that food insecurity or undernutrition caused frailty or poor physical function. This was a small cross-sectional pilot of 48 people, and it did not test whether nutrition support or food access interventions improve outcomes.