Internal medicine/primary care reminder: what are the standards of care for HIV-positive patients aged 50 years and older?

The demographics of HIV-positive persons in the United States signal a steady shift toward an older population. The relationship between aging and HIV infection suggests that there is an additive and possibly synergistic effect increasing the risk for numerous common medical conditions, including heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, frailty, depression, and dementia. Given the current crisis in the US health care system regarding universal access to quality primary and geriatric care, the aging of the HIV-positive population will pose numerous challenges to providers and policy makers. This review summarizes key areas of knowledge and concern regarding the care of HIV-positive persons aged 50 years and older.