National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health - January 9, 1994

The study, supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), components of the National Institutes of Health, found that older, at-risk heterosexual individ- uals are one sixth as likely to use condoms during sex and one fifth as likely to have been tested for HIV when compared with a group of people in their 20s who take the same risks. The findings, say scientists from the Institutes, point to the need for including at- risk older Americans in AIDS education programs and for improving communication between health care providers and patients about aging and sexuality.

Older Americans account for 10 percent of all acquired immuno- deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases nationwide. The proportion of cases attributed to heterosexual contact is among the highest of any age group. But there has been little research on behavioral risk among older people. Ron Stall, Ph.D., and Joe Catania, Ph.D., of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at UCSF, analyzed data from the National AIDS Behavioral Surveys taken in 1990 and 1991. The data are among the first to look at risk behaviors among those 50 and older, and show that the most prevalent types of behavioral risks reported in this age group were having multiple sexual partners, having a partner with a known behavioral risk, and having a blood transfusion between 1979 and 1985.

Marcia G. Ory, Ph.D., Chief, Social Science Research on Aging, NIA, and Ellen L. Stover, Ph.D., Director, Office on AIDS, NIMH, are available at the above telephone numbers for interviews on AIDS and older people. In addition, the NIA has a free fact sheet on AIDS and older adults, available to the public by calling toll free 1-800-222-2225; TTY 1-800-222-4225.

The study appears in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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