[Epidemiological profile of elderly HIV/AIDS patients]

The present study is the result of an experience in the hospital Correia Picanço in Recife, Pernambuco Federal State, a reference hospital for HIV patients. The objective of this investigation is to supply the discrepancy of information on elderly carriers of HIV. This is a quantitative, transversal and retrospective research. A diagram form was used to organize the data collected from 46 medical records. Results showed that there was an increase on the number of women, especially married women, heterosexuals, and elderly infected by HIV. The study also showed an increase on the number of infections through sexual contact and the predominance of carriers who were undereducated. It was also observed that the medical records were incomplete. The conclusion was that preventive education programs have to be elaborated in order to reach the population in general, including the elderly.