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People living with HIV (PLWH) have increasingly longer life spans. This age group faces different challenges than younger PLWH, which may include increased stress and social isolation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the age and sex of PLWH are associated with measures of physiologic stress, perceived stress, and social isolation. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 102 PLWH equally into four groups divided by age (younger or older than 50 years) and gender. Participants completed well-validated survey measurements of stress and isolation, and their heart rate variability over 60 minutes was measured by Holter monitor. The mean (SD) Perceived Stress Scale score was 17.4 (6.94), mean Visual Analog Stress Scale score was 3.51 (2.79), and mean Hawthorne Friendship Scale score, a measure of social isolation, was 17.03 (4.84). Mean heart rate variability expressed as the SD of successiveN–Nintervals was 65.47 (31.16) msec. In multivariable regression models that controlled for selected demographic variables, there was no relationship between the Perceived Stress Scale and age (coefficient = −0.09,p=−0.23) or female gender (coefficient = −0.12,p= 0.93); however, there was a modest relationship between female gender and stress using the Visual Analog Stress Scale (coefficient = 1.24,p= 0.05). Perceived Stress was negatively associated with the Hawthorne Friendship score (coefficient = −0.34,p= 0.05). Hawthorne Friendship score was positively associated with younger age (coefficient = 0.11,p= 0.02). Age was the only independent predictor of physiologic stress as measured by heart rate variability (coefficient = −1.3,p< 0.01). Our findings suggest that younger PLWH may experience more social isolation; however, age-related changes in heart rate variability do not appear to be related to perceived stress or social isolation. Future longitudinal research is required to more thoroughly understand this relationship and its impact on the health of PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Vitamin D3 on physical performance in patients with HF., Background: HF is associated with functional decline and frailty. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with loss of muscle strength and poor outcomes in patients with HF., Methods: Sixty-four patients participated in a 6-month parallel design double blind RCT to test the hypothesis that oral vitamin D3 would improve physical performance. Vitamin D3 50,000 IU or placebo was given weekly; all received daily calcium. Patients were included regardless of EF and 25OHD ≤ 37.5 ng/ml. The primary outcome was peak VO2, and secondary outcomes were the 6MW, TGUG and knee isokinetic muscle strength. Between group comparisons were made using ANCOVA models that adjust for baseline measures., Results: Patients were age 65.9 ± 10.4 years old, 48% women, 64% African American, EF 37.6±13.9, 36% NYHA III, the remainder NYHA II. At baseline the vitamin D group 25OHD was 19.1 ± 9.3 ng/ml and increased to 61.7 ± 20.3 ng/ml; in the placebo group baseline 25OHD was 17.8 ± 9.0 ng/ml and decreased to 17.4 ± 9.8 ng/ml at 6 months (between groups p<0.001). There was no significant change from baseline to 6 months in peak VO2, 6MW, TGUG or isokinetic muscle strength., Conclusions: Vitamin D3 did not improve physical performance for patients with HF despite a robust increase in serum 25OHD. Vitamin D repletion in patients with HF should conform to standard adult guidelines for vitamin D supplementation.