A Structured Telephone Interview for collecting Geriatric health domains in Older People with HIV during COVID era

Abstract Background Elderly people living with HIV show a significant prevalence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy and frailty that increase the risk of disability. Telehealth has been suggested as a new tool to monitor people living with HIV in the COVID era, but its effectiveness in elderly is unknown. The aim of this study was two-fold: to explore feasibility of a telephone interview and its capability to collect relevant geriatric outcomes. Methods Assessed health domains included comorbidities, falls, urinary incontinence, antiretroviral drugs exposure and comedications (polypharmacy), and the following patient reported outcomes: quality of life, intrinsic capacity, and resilience. Results 214 (70.6%) answered and completed the interview. During confinement period, 57 (26.7%) of people switched antiretroviral therapy : 119 (55.4%) to dual therapy regimens and 95 (44.6%) to triple regimens. Prevalence of geriatric syndromes were falls in 31 cases (14.7%), urinary incontinence in 48 cases (22.7%) and polypharmacy 122 cases (57.2%). Mean Health-related Quality of Life score was mildly impaired (0,88%) with good concordance of Helath-related Quality of Life self-perception in a visual analogue scale (8/10) (r=+0.348; p <0.01). Intrinsic capacity depicted impaired functional ability in multiple domains (0.737 ) and Resilience (CD-RISC) was suboptimal (0.6). Conclusions A structured telephone call was feasible in elderly people living with HIV and allowed to collect clinically meaningful geriatric health domains when face-to-face visits are not needed or discouraged.