Background: Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are nephroprotective but are associated with early eGFR decline, also termed “eGFR dip.” Despite elevated risk of kidney disease, this phenomenon is understudied among people with HIV (PWH). Methods: In a 1:1 propensity score–matched cohort study using data from 9 Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) sites, we compared new SGLT2i users with new users of other antihyperglycemic classes. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for time to ≥10% and ≥30% eGFR decline using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and analyzed eGFR change using multivariable linear mixed models. In addition, longer-term eGFR trends over 24 months were visualized using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) curves. Results: Among 1554 eligible PWH, we obtained 295 matched pairs. Over 6 months, eGFR decline incidence of ≥10% and ≥30% was higher among users of SGLT2i versus other antihyperglycemic classes (58.2% vs. 37.4%; aHR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.40%–2.28%; and 17.3% vs. 9.8%; aHR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.05–2.73; respectively). The adjusted mean eGFR change at 6 months was −2.62 mL/min/1.73 m 2 for SGLT2i versus 0.05 mL/min/1.73 m 2 for other classes. Long-term eGFR trends revealed an expected initial decline after SGLT2i initiation, followed by stabilization and a slower subsequent decline compared with other classes. Conclusions: Acute eGFR dips were more common among PWH initiating SGLT2i relative to other antihyperglycemic classes, although overall declines were small, transient, and consistent with the general population. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of SGLT2i in PWH.
Age modifies the association between sex and the plasma inflammatory proteome in treated HIV
BACKGROUND Among antiretroviral therapy–suppressed (ART-suppressed) people with HIV (PWH), women have higher levels of some inflammatory markers than men, but the effect of sex on the inflammatory proteome, and whether age modifies these differences, remain unclear. METHODS Plasma inflammatory protein levels were assessed in ART-suppressed PWH from the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems. The relationship between sex and plasma proteins — including 22 interferon-α response pathway proteins — was assessed, adjusting for confounders and assessing interactions by age. RESULTS Of 922 participants, 162 (18%) were female. The median age was 47, above which the majority of women had undetectable plasma anti-Müllerian hormone levels, a biomarker of ovarian reserve. Age modified the influence of sex on the inflammatory proteome. Older age (>47) was associated with greater increases among women than men in 194 proteins. Interferon-α response proteins were higher in men in those ≤ 47 but higher in women in those > 47 (interaction P < 0.001). Among the 131 proteins associated with mortality risk ( q < 0.05), only 5 differed by sex among those ≤ 47, while 79 differed by sex in those > 47, with nearly all being higher in women. Women had decreased mortality than men ≤ 47 ( P < 0.001) but had similar mortality > 47 ( P = 0.84). CONCLUSION The menopausal transition appears to increase systemic type I interferon responses and inflammation in women with HIV, which may contribute to a loss of female advantage in mortality. FUNDING NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Association between housing instability and frailty among people with HIV
Background: Housing instability and HIV are both associated with early onset of aging-related health conditions, including frailty. However, little is known about the relationship between housing and frailty among people with HIV. Methods: We analyzed data on adults in HIV care collected during routine clinical visits at 6 sites within the US Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) between 2019 and 2024. We measured frailty using a previously validated approach, defined as having at least three of four components (fatigue, weight loss, immobility, inactivity) vs. less than three components. Housing status was based on self-perceived living situation in the past month (“Stable,” “Unstable,” “Homeless,” or “Don’t know”). We estimated the association between most recent housing status and frailty with prevalence ratios from relative risk regression adjusted for sociobehavioral and clinical characteristics. Results: Among 6961 people with HIV (84% men, 16% women) with a median age of 52 years (IQR: 40–60), 11% ( n = 760) were frail and 9% ( n = 625) were unstably housed (5% unstable, 3% homeless, 1% do not know). Compared to individuals with stable housing, the prevalence of frailty more than doubled among those experiencing unstable housing [prevalence ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.95–2.97] or homelessness (prevalence ratio = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.56–2.69). Stratified analyses indicated stronger associations among younger vs. older individuals and among those virally suppressed vs. unsuppressed. Conclusion: Housing instability and frailty were both prevalent and strongly associated among adults in HIV care, including within younger and virally suppressed subgroups. These findings highlight the importance of social determinants of health for clinical outcomes among all people with HIV.