GERÃNIMO MALDONADO-MARTÃNEZ, ROBERT HUNTER-MELLADO, EDDY RÃOS-OLIVARES. Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
HIV/AIDS In The Elderly: Comparisons By Gender Of The Psychosocial, Behavioral, Clinical & Immunological Spectrum In A Puerto Rican Cohort. GERÓNIMO MALDONADO-MARTÍNEZ, ROBERT HUNTER-MELLADO, EDDY RÍOS-OLIVARES Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Introduction
Results
HIV/AIDS in the elderly population is a topic that denotes a heavy financial burden in health systems worldwide. According to World Health Organization, 2010 people ranging from 60 thru 74 years old are considered elderly. This starting point definition is sustained by Pan American Health Organization, 2010 who establishes the range of 60 thru 65 years old to denominate the elderly. As stated by the Centers for Disease Control in 2008, 2,002 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported among the elderly population, with a cumulative cohort (2005 thru 2008) of 35,411 cases along the United States. In Puerto Rico in 2008, the number of cases of HIV/AIDS among the elderly was 756, this represent the 2.3% of the total island-wide patients living with HIV/AIDS. Due to the natural biological and cognitive detrimental mechanisms associated with elderly, is imperative to have a better understanding of the whole spectrum that surrounds a Puerto Rican elderly living with HIV/AIDS in order to design novel HIV interventions, based on risk reduction and education.
Seventy percent (n=73) were men. Remarkable significances were found in psychosocial profile, women tend to get isolated and depressed 78% (n=25) and 81% (n=26) respectively (p
