Enhanced clinician awareness of HIV in the elderly is needed

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Enhanced clinician awareness of HIV in the elderly is needed

Adults over age 50 now account for at least ten percent of reported AIDS cases. More research surrounding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of AIDS in older persons is needed. HIV-infected older people do not survive as long as younger people, are less likely to use condoms or participate in routine HIV testing. Chiao, Ries and Sande offer a current literature review concerning the epidemiology of AIDS in older adults as well as information about AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, treatment and prevention behaviours among the elderly.

Source: Chiao EY, Ries KM, Sande MA. AIDS and the elderly. Clinical infectious diseases 1999;28(4):740-5.