title: [HIV infection in old age: an epidemiological and clinical study in 42 patients in the Community of Madrid].
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted at diagnosis of HIV infection in 42 patients aged > or = 60 years attended in two hospitals in the Madrid Community. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Mean age was 64 years, 38 patients (90.4%) were males, and 24 (57.1%) met the AIDS criteria at diagnosis. Risk behaviour: 14 (33.3%) heterosexuals, 13 (30.9%) homosexuals, 3 (7.1%) bisexuals, 3 (7.1%) had received blood derivatives, 2 (4.7%) transfused patients, 1 (2.3%) parenteral drug abuser, 1 (2.3%) others and 5 (11.9%), unknown. In 18 (42.8%) patients there was a delay of diagnosis of 7.5 +/- 1.2 months (range: 1.5-24 months). These patients had lymphocyte counts lower than those diagnosed without delay (102 +/- 20 vs 262 +/- 67.10(9)/l, p < 0.01). Patients without AIDS criteria had a likelihood of 15.4% of progression towards AIDS at one year. The survival rate of patients with AIDS at one year was 50.1%. Patients with AIDS and diagnostic delay had a survival rate at one year lower than that in patients without diagnostic delay (30.7% vs 77.8%, p = 0.03). In summary, a predominant sexual transmission was found in our series. Delay of diagnosis entails a greater clinical and immunologic deterioration and a lower survival at one year. Early diagnosis and therapy with anti-retroviral agents might induce a longer survival in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna (Unidad VIH), Centro Nacional de Investigación Clínica y Medicina Preventiva, Madrid.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Martínez Hernández
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Valencia Ortega
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peña Sánchez de Rivera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano Vázquez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González-Lahoz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arnalich Fernández
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López Gay
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poveda Gómez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camacho Siles
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magallón Martínez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González García
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vázquez Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*