HIV/AIDS and Aging
  • The epidemic is polarized - we have lots of young, new  naïve infections (new to treatment), but with low T-cell counts, and those chronically infected who are aging.
  • HIV is lifelong & relatively manageable, but there are lots of unanswered questions as the population ages; more research needs to ^be done on aspects of lifelong chronic manageable infection - what is the long-term significance of HIV, of treatments, etc? We need to investigate more. And PPD wants to work in collaborations with other to answer these kinds of questions.
  • Is it the drugs, is it the virus or is it just getting old? Or a mix of the three?
  • USA: 13-14% of new cases are >50 yrs
  • Significant increase in older women >50 yrs
    • Late presenters and not perceived to be at risk
    • Divorce/Widowed-starting new relationships
    • Use of other drugs in older people
    • Poor immune response
    • Faster disease progression
    • And Differently-abled conditions
  • Older age associated with:
    • Better adherence
    • Slower CD4 recovery
    • Increased mortality from non-AIDS events
 

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