title: HIV among the elderly with special reference to mode of presentation at a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata, India.
abstract: Epidemiological data of HIV affected individuals of aged 50 years and above in India are lacking for various reasons. Diagnosing HIV infection among the elderly is challenging as chronic HIV/AIDS can mimic those typically associated with aging in parallel to the myth that elderly individuals lead asexual lives. In this study, low-literate, poor, urban men were the major group. The most common presentation at diagnosis was frailty or unexpected weight loss and neurocognitive impairment, whereas the incidence of TB was much less. Policy makers and social workers should be aware of this descriptive analysis in order to address the emerging issue of HIV among geriatrics and to create a broader awareness programme and more liberal HIV testing among this group. This study also highlights the need for a larger population based study involving elderly HIV infected persons in India.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata 700073, India. dratalukdar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Arunansu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.forename: Dibbendhu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khanra
authors.forename: Sayantan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Payel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.forename: Sukriti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Bhaswati
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Bibhuti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saha
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: CD4 count; Elderly; HIV/AIDS; India; clinical presentation; socio-demography