Human immunodeficiency virus infection in elderly patients.
BACKGROUND
The proportion of older individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is rising.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective case-control study of 58 patients more than 60 years old at the time of diagnosis of HIV infection and compared them with 232 controls (matched by CD4+ lymphocyte count). Clinical and demographic data were obtained from the Adult Spectrum of Diseases (ASD) database at the Medical Center of Louisiana.


RESULTS
Patients in the older age group were more likely to be male and African American or Hispanic. The most common risk factor for acquisition of HIV infection among the patients was homosexual contact (53%). Disease staging was similar in both groups as determined by CD4+ lymphocyte counts and history of opportunistic infections. There was no difference in the use of antiretroviral therapy. In a Cox proportional hazard model and regression models, age > or = 60 years was associated with shorter survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who are older than 60 years at the time of diagnosis of HIV infection have a shorter survival than younger patients.
Butt
A A
AA
Section of Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans 70112, USA.
Dascomb
K K
KK
DeSalvo
K B
KB
Bazzano
L
L
Kissinger
P J
PJ
Szerlip
H M
HM
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents