Factors associated with HIV-related stigma among adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the Asia-Pacific region.

People with HIV (PWH) continue to experience stigma across community, social, and healthcare settings, yet data from the Aisa-Pacific region remains limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study at five HIV clinics in Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand from July 2019 to June 2020 to assess HIV-related stigma and associated factors. Perceived stigma was measured using the 40-item Berger's HIV Stigma Scale.

Kinetics and predictors of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after commencing HBV-active antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the setting of HIV-and chronic HBV co-infection.

Background: An effective therapeutic strategy for HBV cure remains an urgent unmet need. We aimed to define the incidence, kinetics and predictors of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss in people living with HIV and HBV (PLWH-HBV) following HBV-active antiretroviral therapy (ART) in PLWH-HBV in Asia.

Method: 97 PLWH-HBV commencing HBV-active ART were recruited prospectively in Thailand (n=94) and Malaysia (n=3) then followed for 24 months.

The Risk of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Elderly People Living with HIV during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Malnutrition is a risk factor of sarcopenia in the elderly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, limited transportation and supply chain disruptions restricted access to nutritious foods. We assessed the nutritional status and sarcopenia risk in older people living with HIV (PLWH) on combination antiretroviral therapy in Thailand.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis With Liver Fibrosis as Predictors of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in People With HIV: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: We investigated the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) plus or minus a concurrent diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and incident diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk factors associated with NAFLD or NASH development.

Methods: In this prospective study, we analyzed people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH) aged ≥18 years without excessive alcohol consumption or hepatitis coinfections. NAFLD was defined as controlled attenuation parameter ≥248 dB/m, whereas NASH with significant disease activity and liver fibrosis was defined as a FibroScan-AST score ≥0.

High-Sensitivity Troponins and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis Evaluated by Coronary Calcium Score Among Older Asians Living With Well-Controlled Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Elevated levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) are suggestive of myocardial cell injury and coronary artery disease. We explored the association between hs-cTn and subclinical arteriosclerosis using coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring among 337 virally suppressed patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who were ≥50 years old and without evidence of known coronary artery disease.

Methods: Noncontrast cardiac computed tomography and blood sampling for hs-cTn, both subunit I (hs-cTnI) and subunit T (hs-cTnT), were performed.

Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is associated with immune activation, increased epicardial fat volume, and steatohepatitis among people with HIV in a Thai cohort.

Introduction: A change in terminology from fatty liver disease to metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), along with modified diagnostic criteria, was proposed in 2020, and data regarding MAFLD burden in people living with HIV are limited. We investigated associations between MAFLD and immune activation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks including epicardial fat volume, and steatohepatitis in an Asian cohort.

Methods: We evaluated CVD risk (epicardial fat tissue, coronary artery calcium [CAC] score, and 10-year atherosclerotic CVD [ASCVD] score) in people living with HIV aged >50 years.

Bone mineral density among virologically suppressed Asians older than 50 years old living with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study.

There are limited data regarding bone health in older people living with HIV (PWH), especially those of Asian ethnicity. We aimed to determine whether BMD in well-suppressed HIV-infected men and women aged ≥ 50 years are different from HIV-uninfected controls. In a cross-sectional study, BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and calciotropic hormones were measured.

Deterioration of Nutritional Status and Its Negative Association with Depression Among Older HIV-Infected Asian Population: A Four-Year Longitudinal Study.

There is limited evidence about the long-term changes in nutritional status among the elderly people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). We aimed to investigate the changes in nutritional status and related factors over 4 years in the elderly PLWH. The longitudinal study was conducted prospectively among 250 PLWH, 50 years of age and older, receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).