[HIV infection in different age groups: Potential implications for prevention. CoRIS Cohort, Spain, 2004-2008].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of HIV infected adults according to their age at recruitment in CoRIS.


METHODS
Analysis of an open, prospective, multicentric cohort of HIV+ adults without previous antiretroviral treatment, attended for the first time from January/2004 to November/2008, in 28 Spanish hospitals (CoRIS). We analyzed their characteristics at recruitment and the distribution of AIDS defining illnesses (ADI) prior to cohort entry and during follow up, according to their age at recruitment. Delayed diagnosis was defined as a patient with AIDS diagnosis and/or CD4+ cell count lower than 200 cells/microl within the first year after HIV diagnosis.


RESULTS
Of 4,418 patients included, 30.4% were < or =30 years old, 60.6% between 31 and 50 and 8.9% older than 50 at cohort entry; 31.6% of patients were immigrants (44.1% in the youngest group), 79.6% had been sexually transmitted and 15.2% had an AIDS diagnosis at cohort entry (28.1% between those older than 50). In 34.6% of cases there was a late diagnosis (53.3% in the oldest group). The ADIs varied according to age; tuberculosis was more frequent in the youngest. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, HIV related encephalopathy, recurrent pneumonia and primary lymphoma of brain were more frequent among the oldest.


CONCLUSIONS
The immunological characteristics and the distribution of ADIs varied according to age. The proportion of late diagnosis was unacceptably high, suggesting the need of specific interventions designed to promote earlier diagnosis.
Caro-Murillo
Ana María
AM
Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERESP, Madrid, España. amcaro@isciii.es
Gil Luciano
Ana
A
Navarro Rubio
Gemma
G
Leal Noval
Manuel
M
Blanco Ramos
José Ramón
JR
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load