Comorbidities among the HIV-infected patients aged 40 years or older in Taiwan
Journal
PLoS ONE
Journal Volume
9
Journal Issue
8
Pages
e104945
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Wu P.-Y.
Chen M.-Y.
Tsai M.-S.
Lee K.-Y.
Liu W.-C.
Yang S.-P.
Luo Y.-Z.
Zhang J.-Y.
Abstract
Background: With the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has significantly prolonged. An increasing number of HIV-infected patients are aging and concurrent use of medications are not uncommon for management of metabolic complications and cardiovascular diseases related to aging and prolonged exposure to cART. Methods: We reviewed medical records of all HIV-infected patients aged 40 years or older who had been followed at a university hospital for HIV care in Taiwan between January and December 2013. A standardized case record form was used to collect information on demographics and clinical characteristics, comorbidity, cART, and concurrent medications. Results: During the study period, 610 patients aged 40 to 49 years (mean, 44.1) and 310 aged 50 years or older (mean, 58.8) sought HIV care at this hospital. Compared with patients aged 40 to 49 years, those aged 50 years or older were significantly more likely to be female (15.9% vs 3.8%); to have received cART (97.7% vs 94.8%) and a lower plasma HIV RNA load (1.6 vs 1.7 log10 copies/ml); and to have diabetes mellitus (18.4% vs 4.6%), hypertension (31.0% vs 10.8%), hyperlipidemia (29.4% vs 11.6%), coronary artery disease (6.8% vs 0.5%), and an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (11.5% vs 2.7%); and were significantly less likely to have syphilis. Other than HIV infection, patients aged 50 years or older were more likely to have been receiving two or more concurrent medications than those aged 40 to 49 years (22.9% vs 6.4%). Conclusions: Our findings show a significant proportion of the HIV-infected patients aged 50 years or older have multiple comorbidities that may increase the risk for cardiovascular and renal complications. Issues of poly-pharmacy among the HIV-infected patients who are aging should be addressed to ensure adherence and minimize drug-drug interactions. ? 2014 Wu et al.
SDGs
Other Subjects
anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; adult; aged; Cardiovascular Diseases; comorbidity; cross-sectional study; diabetes mellitus; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV Infections; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; isolation and purification; Kidney Diseases; male; middle aged; syphilis; Taiwan; Adult; Aged; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cardiovascular Diseases; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Syphilis; Taiwan
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Type
journal article