HIV infection in elderly medical patients.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence and presentation of HIV-infection among medical admissions aged 55 years and above. Prospective cross-sectional study. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Consecutive patients aged 55 years and above hospitalised in the medical wards of the Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam from February to May 1998. The overall HIV-1 seroprevalence was 15.0% (38/253); and by sex it was 18.5 % (28/ 151) among males compared to 9.8% (10/102) amongfemales (p=0.06). The HIV-1 prevalence among those aged 55 to 59 years was 29.7%. There was no association between HIV- 1 serostatus and whether one lived in a rural or urban area, marital status, level of education nor socio-economic status. The main presenting features in patients who were found to be HIV-1 seropositive were wasting 44.7%, fever 39.5%, pallor 34.2% and weight loss 31.6%. Only six (15.8%) of the 38 patients were initially suspected to have been HIV-infected before laboratory results were obtained. HIV-infection is a notable problem in the population of elderly medical admissions in Dar es Salaam. The possibility of HIV-infection should be considered among elderly patients with clinical features of immunodeficiency. HIV/AIDS prevention programmes directed towards the elderly should be established.