title: Predictors of HIV-infection in older adults.
abstract: This article is a retrospective case-control study of patients from a Veteran's Affairs Medical Center and an urban public hospital. Patients (53) older than 55 at the time of their HIV diagnosis were age- and gender-matched to 106 HIV-negative controls. Potential predictors of HIV-infection were abstracted from the medical records. HIV-positive patients were more likely to have a history of sexually transmitted diseases, have Hepatitis B+, and have significant differences in their mean globulin, serum sodium, albumin, and hemoglobin levels. The mean albumin to globulin ratio was also statistically, significantly different between the HIV-positive patients and the controls. These data suggest that for patients older than 55, certain medical history parameters may be useful in predicting risk of being HIV-positive. An albumin to globulin ratio < 1.0, especially when combined with a history of alcohol abuse or prior sexually transmitted disease, should prompt all physicians to screen their older patients for HIV.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Clinic, Department of Medicine, Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center, Bldg. 300, Fort Gordon, GA 30905, USA. mszerlip@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Molly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Szerlip
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: DeSalvo
authors.forename: Harold M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Szerlip
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D012964:Sodium
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; D012964:Sodium