Mobility Deviations in Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Cross-Sectional Assessment Using Gait Analysis, Functional Performance, and Self-Report

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects walking biomechanics, or about associations between HIV-related gait deviations, functional performance, and self-reported outcomes. This paper reports on (1) gait biomechanics and variability in people with HIV (PWH) and (2) associations with clinical tests, self-reported function, and falls. METHODS: A cross-sectional study tested consecutively sampled PWH (n = 50) and HIV-seronegative participants ([SNP] n = 50). Participants underwent 3-dimensional gait analysis, performed clinical tests (short walk and single leg stance tests with and without dual tasking, chair-rise tests, and a physical performance battery), and completed questionnaires about function and falls. Between-group comparisons were done using analysis of covariance. Linear correlations between gait variability, clinical tests, and patient-reported outcomes were established. RESULTS: People with HIV and SNP had comparable median ages (PWH = 36.6, interquartile range [IQR] = 32.0–45.6]; SNP = 31.1, IQR = 23.2–45.1). Compared with SNP, PWH walked slower (adjusted mean difference [MD] = −0.2 meters per second [m/s], 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.3 to −0.1) with greater variability (adjusted MD = 14.7 variability score points, 95% CI = 9.9–19.5). Moreover, PWH were slower in five-times sit-to-stand (5STS) performance (adjusted MD = 1.9 seconds, 95% CI = 1.00–2.9). Significant deviations in hip kinematics (increased flexion; adjusted MDs = 2.4°–2.8°, P = .012–.016) and knee kinematics (reduced flexion; adjusted MDs = 2.3°–3.7°, P = .007–.027) were found in PWH during dual-task (DT) walking. The PWH’s 5STS moderately correlated with larger gait variability (usual pace r = −0.5; dual task r = −0.6), poorer self-reported mobility (r = 0.4) and self-care function (r = 0.5), and fear of falling (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: People with HIV presented with biomechanical deviations suggestive of a slowed and variable gait, especially under cognitive challenges. Five-times STS may be useful to screen for gait deviations in PWH.