Rev Clin Esp. 1997 Oct;197(10):684-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
A cross-sectional study was conducted at diagnosis of HIV infection in
42 patients aged > or = 60 years attended in two hospitals in the Madrid
Community. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were
retrospectively analyzed. Mean age was 64 years, 38 patients (90.4%)
were males, and 24 (57.1%) met the AIDS criteria at diagnosis. Risk
behaviour: 14 (33.3%) heterosexuals, 13 (30.9%) homosexuals, 3 (7.1%)
bisexuals, 3 7.1%) had received blood derivatives, 2 (4.7%) transfused
patients, 1 (2.3%) parenteral drug abuser, 1 (2.3%) others and 5 11.9%),
unknown. In 18 (42.8%) patients there was a delay of diagnosis of 7.5
+/- 1.2 months (range: 1.5-24 months). These patients had lymphocyte
counts lower than those diagnosed without delay (102 +/- 20 vs 262 +/-
67.10(9)/l, p < 0.01). Patients without AIDS criteria had a likelihood
of 15.4% of progression towards AIDS at one year. The survival rate of
patients with AIDS at one year was 50.1%. Patients with AIDS and
diagnostic delay had a survival rate at one year lower than that in
patients without diagnostic delay (30.7% vs 77.8%, p = 0.03). In
summary, a predominant sexual transmission was found in our series.
Delay of diagnosis entails a greater clinical and immunologic
deterioration and a lower survival at one year. Early diagnosis and
therapy with anti-retroviral agents might induce a longer survival in
these patients.
*HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY *HIV-1 *Urban Population/STATISTICS &
NUMER DATA