Proportion of HIV Patients Over 50 Is Increasing

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Proportion of HIV Patients Over 50 Is Increasing

By Will Boggs, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Oct 02 - More and more patients living with HIV/AIDS are aged 50 years and older, according to a report in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

"HIV infection cannot be ruled out based on age," Dr. Sindy M. from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Trenton, told Reuters Health. "In September 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published recommendations that all persons 13-64 years of age be tested for HIV. Those at risk for HIV should be tested annually."

Dr. and colleagues examined trends in relative proportions and rates of newly diagnosed cases of HIV/AIDS in the population aged 50 and older in New Jersey.

The proportion of all persons living with HIV/AIDS who were aged 50 years and older increased significantly between 1992 (6.4%) and 2004 (26.2%), the authors report.

Almost 70% of the patients aged 50 and older living with HIV/AIDS in June 2005 had been diagnosed before reaching age 50, the report indicates.

Although the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS in persons 50 and older declined between 1992 and 2003, the investigators say, the incidence declined only 45.6% in those aged 50 and older, compared with a 70.3% decline in incidence in individuals younger than 50 years.

"Physicians need to include a complete social history, including a sexual history and a substance use history, as part of their history taking," Dr. advised. "As was recently published, older persons remain sexually active and therefore may be at risk for HIV."

Dr. would like to see physicians integrate HIV counseling and testing into routine clinical care. "Physicians play a key role in preventing HIV transmission by communicating prevention messages, positively reinforcing behavior changes that reduce the risk of infection, diagnosing and treating other sexually transmitted infections, and referring patients for services such as drug treatment."

Dr. added: "The New Jersey Association on HIV Over 50, which is an affiliate of the National Association on HIV Over 50, contributes to enhance public awareness. This organization also provides opportunities for support and public advocacy. The National Association on HIV Over 50 can be contacted at www.hivoverfifty.org."

J Am Geriatr Soc 2007;55:1393-1397.

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