Author/Authors :
Rasoolinejad, Mehrnaz Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Asadollahi-Amin, Ali Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Ghadimi, Fateme Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Mojahed, Masoudeh Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Dadras, Omid Department of Global Health and Socioepidemiology - Graduate School of Medicine - Kyoto University, Kyoto , Japan , Moradmand-Badie, Banafesheh Black Dog Institute - University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia , Hassan Nezhad, Malihe Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , SeyedAlinaghi, Ahmad Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS - Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Although the number of new HIV infections continues
to decline in Iran, the number of HIV-infected patients aged ≥50 years
continues to rise due to the introduction of new treatment and longer
survival. The higher prevalence of medical comorbidities and treatment
failure in this population is a critical challenge in HIV treatment. In
the present study, prevalence of comorbidities, rate of response to
treatment, and results of HIV drug resistance tests were explored in
older patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral
HIV center in Tehran, Iran. The data for all the HIV-positive patients
older than 50 years old were collected by reviewing their medical
records within the last 15 years. Data included demographic and
behavioral characteristics, immunologic and virologic response, rate
of treatment failure, and HIV resistance.
Results: The records for 100 patients with a mean age of 62.5 (range
50-79) years were reviewed and analyzed. Medical comorbidities were
observed in 20% of the patients, with HCV co-infection, diabetes
mellitus, and neuropsychiatric impairments being the most common.
Complete immunologic and virologic responses were respectively
observed in 88 and 97% of patients. The treatment regimen was
modified in 66 patients, with drug side effects being the reason in
63 patients (95.4%). HIV drug resistance tests showed a low rate of
resistance (<10%) to all drugs used in this population.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the high prevalence of
comorbidities in older HIV-positive individuals in Iran. A thorough
endocrine and neuropsychiatric assessment at each visit is recommended
for these patients. Access to an appropriate psychosocial support system
will ensure earlier detection of HIV infection and comorbidities in the
older population, and will undoubtedly improve the treatment outcome
and quality of life among them.
Keywords :
Aged , Comorbidity , HIV infections , Iran , Treatment a outcome
