HIV/AIDS epidemic among older adults in China during 2005-2012: results from trend and spatial analysis.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have indicated an increasing burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among older adults.


METHODS
All identified people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) recorded through the Chinese HIV/AIDS CRS during 2005-2012 were included in the study, except for the cases that lacked specific spatial information. Trend tests and spatial analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
Information about 73,521 PLWHA (aged ≥50 years) was collected during 2005-2012. Three provinces-Guangxi, Henan, and Yunnan-accounted for 54.4% of the identified cases during the study period. Compared with 2005, the ratio between residents and migrants among the study population decreased to 40.1% in 2012. The ratio of HIV-infected patients to AIDS patients and the ratio of males to females increased gradually among older infected adults. Results of spatial analysis indicate a clustered distribution of HIV/AIDS among older adults throughout the country. Hot spots were observed in 4 provinces (Guangxi, Henan, Yunnan, and Sichuan) and 1 municipality (Chongqing). A trend from central provinces toward southern provinces was also identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The number and proportion of HIV/AIDS among older adults have increased in recent years. The hot spots showed movement from central to southern China. A focused intervention strategy targeting the older PLWHA is urgently required in China.
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Jiannan
J
Xing
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Yin-ge
YG
Li
University of North Carolina Project-China, Chapel Hill.
Weiming
W
Tang
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Wei
W
Guo
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Zhengwei
Z
Ding
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Guowei
G
Ding
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Liyan
L
Wang
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Qianqian
Q
Qin
Department of Epidemiology, Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Jining, Shandong, China.
Yan
Y
Xu
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Shasha
S
Qian
Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles.
Tanmay
T
Mahapatra
National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
Lu
L
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D019371:Topography, Medical
HIV/AIDS; older adult; spatial analysis