[Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in elderly persons in a tropical zone. Apropos of 175 cases in the Congo].

The objective of this study has been to estimate the frequency of AIDS occurring in older age groups on the basis of hospital statistics and note the prognostic particularities in these groups. One hundred and seventy five (175) cases of AIDS reported to the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville occurring in persons aged 55 years and over were followed up retrospectively from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1996. The results of this study indicate that AIDS is not rare in older age groups: 4.7% of all infected subjects registered during the period of study. The sex-ratio was 1.3/1 (99 males and 76 females). The overall mean age was 60.45. Contamination seems to be the most often of heterosexual origin. Many symptoms were found. The most frequent ones were weight loss (100% cases), fever (89.7%), diarrhoea (60.5%), neuro-psychiatric disorders (49.7%), and respiratory manifestations (50.2%). Lethal evolution was rapid, with 74% deaths at the end of the 1st year and 100% at the end of 2nd year, as a consequence of delayed diagnosis as well as the natural development of the disease. The results of this study point to the necessity of prevention strategies which include not only young, but older age groups as well.