title: The demography, clinical manifestations and natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in an older population in Singapore.
abstract: In this retrospective study, we report 43 cases (41 males and 2 females) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Singapore population aged 50 years and above at first presentation. We found an increasing proportion of these older individuals among our HIV-seropositive patients; from 4.8% in 1991 to 16.7% by mid-1996. The mean age at presentation was 59.2 years (range 50 to 75 years). They were mainly heterosexuals (93%) and the majority (79.1%) were previously or currently married. Thirty-six (83.7%) patients had multiple sexual exposures to commercial sex workers. Nearly all had acquired the infection through the sexual route. The majority (76.7%) were symptomatic at presentation. Common clinical presentations were weight loss (72%), respiratory symptoms (60%) and oral candidiasis (56%). More than half (58.1%) of the patients had acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) at the time of first presentation with a low median CD4 count of 17 cells/mm3. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and tuberculosis were the common AIDS-defining diseases. Survival in patients presenting with AIDS (median survival 3 months) is poorer compared to younger HIV-seropositive patients (< 50 years; median survival 1 year). No increase in age-related infection or malignancy was seen. Common causes of death were pneumonia and septicaemia. Physicians should consider HIV infection in older patients particularly when he/she presents with unexplained weight loss, respiratory symptoms and oral candidiasis. A history of high-risk sexual behaviour must be sought in all patients, including the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Snodgrass
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology