Seniors With HIV Have a Higher Risk of Many Chronic Health Conditions

Istock

A comparison of Medicare beneficiaries saw that HIV was linked with a higher risk of conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

September 27, 2016

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

People age 65 and older have a higher risk of numerous chronic conditions if they are living with HIV.

Publishing their findings in the journal AIDS, researchers analyzed data on 29 million Medicare beneficiaries, among whom 24,735 (0.09 percent) were HIV positive. The people living with HIV were more likely to be Latino, African American male and younger.

The researchers looked at rates of hypertension, high lipid levels, ischemic heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and diabetes. They found that people with HIV were 1.51 times more likely to have diabetes and 2.14 times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The HIV-positive individuals were 2.4 times more likely to have one chronic health condition in addition to HIV and 7.07 times more likely to have five additional conditions.

To read the study abstract, click here.

Read more articles from POZ, here.