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Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
HIV infection in the elderly
1University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Stockton, CA, USA.
Insights
The number of older adults living with HIV is increasing globally. Effective management of HIV in patients over 50 requires awareness of evolving epidemiology and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- An increasing number of individuals over 50 years old are living with HIV.
- HIV infection is transitioning to a chronic condition manageable with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
- Globally, an estimated 2.8 million people aged 50 and above are living with HIV/AIDS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology of HIV in older adults.
- To discuss current HIV treatment strategies.
- To highlight medical management considerations for HIV-infected geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiologic data on HIV prevalence in older adults.
- Discussion of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) impact on survival.
- Analysis of medical management challenges in the context of aging and HIV.
Main Results:
- HIV survival rates have significantly improved due to HAART.
- There is a growing population of older adults diagnosed with and living with HIV.
- Clinicians must adapt to managing HIV as a chronic condition in aging patients.
Conclusions:
- HIV management in older adults requires specialized knowledge of geriatric considerations.
- Awareness of HIV trends in the aging population is crucial for healthcare providers.
- This review aims to equip clinicians with information for managing HIV in elderly patients.
Abstract:
In the US, an estimated 1 million people are infected with HIV, although one-third of this population are unaware of their diagnosis. While HIV infection is commonly thought to affect younger adults, there are an increasing number of patients over 50 years of age living with the condition. UNAIDS and WHO estimate that of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, approximately 2.8 million are 50 years and older. With the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the mid-1990s, survival following HIV diagnosis has risen dramatically and HIV infection has evolved from an acute disease process to being managed as a chronic medical condition. As treated HIV-infected patients live longer and the number of new HIV diagnoses in older patients rise, clinicians need to be aware of these trends and become familiar with the management of HIV infection in the older patient. This article is intended for the general clinician, including geriatricians, and will review epidemiologic data and HIV treatment as well as provide a discussion on medical management issues affecting the older HIV-infected patient.
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