Aging and HIV Infection: a Comparison Between Older HIV-infected Persons and the General Population

Background: As HIV-infected persons age, the relative contribution of HIV infection, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), and the normal aging process to the frequent comorbidities is unknown.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated comorbidities, cardiovascular risk, cognitive function, and anthropomorphic and laboratory parameters of HIV-infected persons aged 50 years and over in two US urban clinics. Results were compared to controls from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) matched 1:1 by age, race, gender, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI).

Results: We enrolled 122 HIV-infected persons; median age 55 years, 83% male, 57% Caucasian, 39% current smokers, mean BMI 26 kg/m2, and 92% on cART. Compared to controls, HIV-infected persons had a higher prevalence of hypertension (54% vs 38%), hypertriglyceridemia (51% vs 33%), low bone mineral density (BMD) (39% vs 0%), and lipodystrophy and greater receipt of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications (all Ps < .05). Groups were similar in prevalence of coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic viral hepatitis, non-AIDS-defining malignancies and Framingham Risk and cognitive function scores.

Conclusions: Older HIV-infected persons have a higher prevalence of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low BMD, and lipodystrophy than matched controls, suggesting that HIV and treatment-related factors exceed "normal" aging in the development of those problems.