ABSTRACT
STATISTICS Older patients in the context of HIV infection have been considered as people ➤ over 50 years of age. Th e Health Protection Agency (HPA) estimated 77 400 people were living with ➤ HIV in the UK at the end of 2007 of whom 28% were unaware of their infection. Th e number of people over the age of 50 accessing HIV care increased from ➤ 1 679 in 1998 to 8 722 in 2007. In 2007 older adults represented 15% of all people accessing HIV care. (Health Protection Agency). In 2008 the HPA reported 7 298 new HIV diagnoses. 11% were in people over 50. ➤ (Health Protection Agency – unadjusted statistics). In 2008 the HPA reported 3 717 (1 435 male, 2 282 female) new HIV infections ➤ as a result of heterosexual contact. 11.7% were in people over 50. (Health Protection Agency – unadjusted statistics). Previous analysis suggests three quarters of these infections were acquired abroad mainly aff ecting the black African population who acquired their infection in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the number of persons infected by heterosexual contact within the UK is rising signifi cantly. 33% of new diagnoses of HIV in 2008 were among men who have sex with men. ➤ 10.5% of these were aged over 50. New HIV diagnoses among gay men continue to rise, increasing from 1 575 in 2000 to 2 433 in 2008 and most of these infections were probably acquired in the UK. HIV surveillance data from 2000-07 suggests 44% of newly diagnosed older gay men were infected with HIV when ≥ 50. (Health Protection Agency – unadjusted statistics). Very few older people newly acquire HIV from intravenous drug use in the UK. ➤ Gay men and black African heterosexual men and women account for 80% of ➤ people living with HIV in the UK. Due to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) people are living longer ➤ with HIV infection. By 2015, ~50% of people living with HIV will be over 50.
