The increase in population longevity has brought to light public health issues that affect older adults, including infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The analysis of the epidemiological profile of this population is essential to understand the mode of transmission and the challenges faced in treatment and prevention. This study aims to analyze the sociodemographic, clinical, and epidemiological profile of older adults diagnosed with HIV in the state of Paraná. Descriptive, retrospective study, with secondary data from the HIV notifiable diseases information system. Records of individuals aged 60 years or older reported as HIV cases in the state of Paraná in the period of 2024 were included. Variables were analyzed by simple frequencies, using SPSS® version 22. A total of 281 cases were analyzed, 74.5% reported in large cities. Most were male (55.2%), self-declared white (59.4%), and residents of urban or peri-urban areas (91.1%). Regarding schooling, 34.5% had up to 9 years of study, and 23.8% had 10 years or more. The main route of exposure was sexual, with emphasis on relations with men (45.6%) and women (28.5%). Laboratory confirmation was positive in 83.3% of cases. The first rapid test was positive in 41.6% and 34.2% in the second test. Most older adults were alive at the time of analysis (87.5%), with 8.5% of deaths attributed to AIDS. The most frequent case definition criterion was HIV+ (57.7%), followed by adapted CDC (36.7%). A predominance of HIV diagnosis was evidenced among older male adults, residents of urban areas, and with up to nine years of schooling. Sexual transmission was the main form of exposure. The data reinforce the importance of prevention and early diagnosis strategies aimed at the older population, traditionally neglected in public policies to confront HIV/AIDS.
Hermann et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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