Comorbid conditions, treatment, and health maintenance in older persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection in New York City

Abstract

We retrospectively examined comorbid conditions and health maintenance in 198 patients aged > or =55 years who attended 3 New York City human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics between 1 January 1990 and 30 June 1998. Annual influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations within 5 years were given in 82% and 86% of patients, respectively. Among 57 women, 79% had a Papanicolaou smear within 1 year, and 53% had a mammogram within 2 years. Of 165 patients who received care after 1 July 1996, 147 (89%) had comorbid conditions (mean number of conditions, 2.4), and 133 (81%) received HIV-unrelated medications (mean number of medications, 2.7). Receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy, its discontinuation because of toxicity, and having an undetectable HIV load were not related to comorbid conditions or use of concurrent medications. Comorbid conditions and use of concurrent HIV-unrelated medications need not adversely affect treatment of HIV-infected older individuals, but increased attention to health maintenance may be necessary.