People aged 50 and older

As people living with HIV (PLWH) live longer, increased understanding of individuals’ values and perceptions of successful aging can assist health providers in working with PLWH to set meaningful goals as they age.

For much of its history, the story of HIV has been that of young lives cut short and children born with an infection that will stop them reaching adulthood.

Now that effective treatment for HIV is available, it is considered to be a long-term condition and many people are living long and healthy lives with HIV. This factsheet covers some key points about growing older with HIV

HIV-positive people are living increasingly long lives. Many people living with HIV can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV.

About the course

Retention, defined as continuous engagement in care, is an important indicator for quality of healthcare services. To achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, emphasis on retention as a predictor of viral suppression in patients initiated on ART is vital.

Most HIV research in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) ignores persons aged 50 years and above, though a few studies have reported a high HIV prevalence among older people.

This study examined HIV risk behaviors among 5,059 adults over age 40 in South Africa, using data from the Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies of INDEPTH Communities (HAALSI) study. The study showed an HIV prevalence of 23 percent, with no differences by sex.

A co-formulation of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) plus emtricitabine, used with a third antiretroviral drug, maintained viral suppression as well as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus emtricitabine in older individuals, and was associated with improvements in kidney function and bone density,

OBJECTIVES:

An increasing proportion of people living with HIV are older adults, who may require specialized care. Adverse physical and psychological effects of HIV infection may be greatest among older people or those who have lived longer with HIV.