L N Mtei1, K P Pallangyo. 1. Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and presentation of HIV-infection among medical admissions aged 55 years and above. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients aged 55 years and above hospitalised in the medical wards of the Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam from February to May 1998. RESULTS: The overall HIV-1 seroprevalence was 15.0% (38/253); and by sex it was 18.5 % (28/ 151) among males compared to 9.8% (10/102) amongfemales (p=0.06). The HIV-1 prevalence among those aged 55 to 59 years was 29.7%. There was no association between HIV- 1 serostatus and whether one lived in a rural or urban area, marital status, level of education nor socio-economic status. The main presenting features in patients who were found to be HIV-1 seropositive were wasting 44.7%, fever 39.5%, pallor 34.2% and weight loss 31.6%. Only six (15.8%) of the 38 patients were initially suspected to have been HIV-infected before laboratory results were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infection is a notable problem in the population of elderly medical admissions in Dar es Salaam. The possibility of HIV-infection should be considered among elderly patients with clinical features of immunodeficiency. HIV/AIDS prevention programmes directed towards the elderly should be established.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and presentation of HIV-infection among medical admissions aged 55 years and above. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients aged 55 years and above hospitalised in the medical wards of the Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam from February to May 1998. RESULTS: The overall HIV-1 seroprevalence was 15.0% (38/253); and by sex it was 18.5 % (28/ 151) among males compared to 9.8% (10/102) amongfemales (p=0.06). The HIV-1 prevalence among those aged 55 to 59 years was 29.7%. There was no association between HIV- 1 serostatus and whether one lived in a rural or urban area, marital status, level of education nor socio-economic status. The main presenting features in patients who were found to be HIV-1 seropositive were wasting 44.7%, fever 39.5%, pallor 34.2% and weight loss 31.6%. Only six (15.8%) of the 38 patients were initially suspected to have been HIV-infected before laboratory results were obtained. CONCLUSIONS:HIV-infection is a notable problem in the population of elderly medical admissions in Dar es Salaam. The possibility of HIV-infection should be considered among elderly patients with clinical features of immunodeficiency. HIV/AIDS prevention programmes directed towards the elderly should be established.
Authors: Andrew A Adjei; Seth Agyemang; Francis D Krampa; Mubarak Abdul-Rahman; Francis Ofei; Margaret Lartey; Theophilus K Adiku; Richard K Gyasi; Yao Tettey Journal: Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines Date: 2016-09-02