AIDS Among Persons Aged ≥50 Years—United States, 1991-1996 FREE

EARLY IN the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, infection occurred disproportionately among older persons as a result of transmission through receipt of contaminated blood or blood products. Through 1989, receipt of contaminated blood or blood products accounted for only 1% of cases among persons aged 13-49 years; in comparison, this risk factor accounted for 6%, 28%, and 64% of cases among persons aged 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and >70 years, respectively.¹ Because of implementation of voluntary donor deferral and routine screening of blood donations in 1985, the number and proportion of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases associated with this risk factor decreased among persons aged ≥50 years.² However, among persons aged ≥50 years, the number and proportion with AIDS associated with other modes of exposure increased. This report describes the characteristics of persons aged ≥50 years with AIDS reported during 1996 and presents trends in the incidence of AIDS-opportunistic illnesses (AIDS-OIs) diagnosed during 1991-1996 by mode of HIV exposure for persons aged ≥50 years. The findings indicate that, even though the incidence of AIDS-OIs during 1996 was higher among persons aged 13-49 years (89%), the proportion of AIDS-OIs accounted for by those aged ≥50 years (11%) was substantial.

For persons with AIDS reported in 1996, the analysis included only cases reported during January 1-December 31, 1996. Trends in AIDS incidence were based on cumulative AIDS cases among persons aged ≥13 years reported to CDC through June 1997 from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and were analyzed by sex, age, race/ethnicity, mode of exposure, and year of AIDS diagnosis.³ Estimates were adjusted for delays in reporting and for the anticipated reclassification of cases initially reported without an HIV risk/exposure.³ To adjust for the 1993 expansion of the AIDS reporting criteria, estimates of the incidence of AIDS-OIs were calculated from the sum of cases reported with an AIDS-OI and cases with estimated dates of diagnosis of an AIDS-OI that were reported based only on immunologic criteria.³ AIDS-OI incidence was estimated quarterly through December 1996 (the most recent annual period for which reliable estimates were available). To calculate annual AIDS incidence rates, mid-year U.S. population estimates were used based on decennial census data.⁴

In 1996, of 68,473 persons aged ≥13 years reported with AIDS, 7459 (11%) were aged ≥50 years; this proportion has remained stable since 1991. Of those aged ≥50 years, 48% were aged 50-54 years, 26% were aged 55-59 years, 14% were aged 60-64 years, and 12% were aged ≥65 years. Males accounted for 84% of cases, and blacks accounted for the highest proportion (43%) by race/ethnicity. Although men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for the highest proportion of cases by exposure category (36%), compared with persons aged 13-49 years, a higher proportion of cases among persons aged ≥50 years were reported without risk information (26%). For both age groups, the highest proportions of cases were in the South (35% and 37%, respectively) and Northeast (32% and 30%, respectively).

In 1996, persons aged ≥50 years were more likely than those aged 13-49 years to be reported with an AIDS-OI (e.g., wasting syndrome [7% versus 4] and HIV encephalopathy [3% versus 1]) than to be reported with severe immunosuppression and without an AIDS-OI (53% versus 58%). In addition, persons aged ≥50 years were more likely to have died within 1 month of their AIDS diagnosis (13% versus 6%), suggesting late diagnosis of HIV infection.

From 1991 to 1996, the proportionate increase in incident cases of AIDS-OIs was greater among persons aged ≥50 years (22%; from 5260 cases to 6400 cases) than among persons aged 13-49 years (9%; from 46,000 cases to 50,300 cases). From 1991 to 1996, among men aged ≥50 years, the number of incident cases of AIDS-OIs among MSM remained stable (2900 cases each for 1991 and 1996), while incident cases among men whose risk was heterosexual contact increased 94% (from 360 cases to 700 cases) and incident cases among men reporting injecting-drug use (IDU) increased 53% (from 850 cases to 1300 cases). Among male recipients of contaminated blood or blood products, incident cases of AIDS-OIs decreased 48% (from 250 cases to 130 cases). Among women aged ≥50 years, cases attributed to heterosexual contact and IDU increased 106% (from 340 cases to 700 cases) and 75% (from 160 cases to 280 cases), respectively, while cases among recipients of contaminated blood or blood products decreased 33% (from 120 cases to 80 cases).

In both 1991 and 1996, the rate of AIDS-OIs was higher for persons aged 13-49 years than for persons aged ≥50 years; rates among men in both age groups were higher than among women. The rate ratios of AIDS-OIs for 1996 and 1991 were similar for both age groups of men (1.1, 1.0) and the same for both age groups of women (1.6).

Local, state, and territorial health depts. Div of HIV/AIDS Prevention-Surveillance and Epidemiology, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC.

Even though the incidence of AIDS-OIs during 1996 was higher among persons aged 13-49 years, the proportion accounted for by persons aged ≥50 years (11%) was substantial. The findings in this report suggest that persons aged ≥50 years may not be promptly tested for HIV infection following the onset of HIV-related illnesses. Specifically, the finding that a higher proportion of persons aged ≥50 years were reported with an AIDS-OI and died within 1 month of AIDS diagnosis suggests that persons aged ≥50 years had AIDS diagnosed later during the course of HIV infection than persons aged 13-49 years. Although older HIV-infected patients have a shorter observed AIDS-free interval and shorter survival period than younger HIV-infected patients,⁵ one reason for later diagnosis among persons aged ≥50 years is that physicians may be less likely to consider HIV infection among this group. This may result in missed opportunities for timely use of OI prophylaxis or antiretroviral therapies to prevent progression of disease. For example, AIDS-OIs that occur commonly among persons aged ≥50 years (e.g., HIV encephalopathy and wasting syndrome) mimic other diseases associated with aging (e.g., Alzheimer disease, depression, and malignancies). In addition, in 1996, a survey of primary-care physicians reported they were less likely to discuss symptoms suggestive of HIV infection or to counsel older patients for HIV testing than their younger patients.⁶ To increase opportunities for HIV testing of U.S. persons aged ≥50 years, health-care providers should be encouraged to discuss risk factors, obtain sexual and drug histories for patients, and consider HIV infection in the differential diagnosis of clinical illnesses that may represent HIV infection in this age group.

Persons aged ≥50 years also may not be promptly tested for HIV infection because they may not perceive themselves to be at risk for HIV infection. AIDS surveillance data indicate that higher proportions of persons aged ≥50 years with cases of AIDS are reported without an identified risk. In 1994, the prevalence of reported condom use was lower among sexually active persons aged ≥50 years who engaged in high-risk behaviors, and a higher proportion of these persons had never been tested for HIV, compared with younger persons who engaged in the same behaviors.⁷ During June 1990-October 1994, a study in 12 state and local health department clinics indicated that older women with heterosexually acquired AIDS were less likely than younger women to have used a condom before their HIV diagnosis and were less likely to have been tested for HIV before being hospitalized with an AIDS-OI.⁸

Because of the frequently long incubation period from HIV infection to AIDS diagnosis, many persons who were diagnosed with AIDS at age ≥50 years were probably infected as younger adults; therefore, prevention efforts also must be directed at adults who engage in high-risk sexual and drug-use behaviors. In addition, because of the impact of recent advances in treatment on AIDS incidence, the AIDS surveillance data in this report may underestimate the current impact of the HIV epidemic both in persons in this age group and younger persons.⁹ Therefore, surveillance for HIV infection and AIDS is important for monitoring HIV transmission—particularly among persons aged ≥50 years—and for evaluating the effectiveness of prevention programs. CDC supports HIV surveillance in 31 states and is developing technical guidance to assist all states and territories in conducting HIV and AIDS case surveillance.

MMWR. 1998;47:36-38. 2 tables, 2 figures omitted.