Clinical, Therapeutic, Epidemiological and Evolutionary Aspects of HIV Infection in the Elderly Senegalese People

Background: While humanity is facing an aging population reality, the growing number of elderly people is resulting to an increasing risk of transmissible as well as non-transmissible diseases including HIV infections. Very little attention is paid to the latter entity. Objectives: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of HIV infection in 55-year-old patients and older. Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted from February 2005 to August 2013 in HIV-positive, 55-year-old patients and older followed in the services of Internal and Dermatology Medicine of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar. Results: Fifty-six patients were included in the study, 29 men and 27 women, representing 8% of all followed HIV-positive patients. The median age was 62.5 years for extreme of 55 and 78 years. The serological profile was of type 1 in 43 patients (76.8%), type 2 in 10 patients (17.9%) and double profile in 3 patients (5.3%). The diagnosis was delayed during opportunistic infections (66%). The rate of average CD4 at baseline was 129/mm(3). The transmission was exclusively heterosexual. Comorbidities were dominated by renal insufficiency (62%), hypertension (25%) and diabetes (9%). Conclusion: HIV infection in the elderly people is a reality in our regions. Being sexually active contrary to popular belief, the elderly are not immune to this disease. Specific programs targeted and tailored to our socio-cultural and religious context must be put in place to help control the spread of this infection.