[HIV infection in old age: an epidemiological and clinical study in 42 patients in the Community of Madrid].

A cross-sectional study was conducted at diagnosis of HIV infection in 42 patients aged > or = 60 years attended in two hospitals in the Madrid Community. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Mean age was 64 years, 38 patients (90.4%) were males, and 24 (57.1%) met the AIDS criteria at diagnosis. Risk behaviour: 14 (33.3%) heterosexuals, 13 (30.9%) homosexuals, 3 (7.1%) bisexuals, 3 (7.1%) had received blood derivatives, 2 (4.7%) transfused patients, 1 (2.3%) parenteral drug abuser, 1 (2.3%) others and 5 (11.9%), unknown. In 18 (42.8%) patients there was a delay of diagnosis of 7.5 +/- 1.2 months (range: 1.5-24 months). These patients had lymphocyte counts lower than those diagnosed without delay (102 +/- 20 vs 262 +/- 67.10(9)/l, p < 0.01). Patients without AIDS criteria had a likelihood of 15.4% of progression towards AIDS at one year. The survival rate of patients with AIDS at one year was 50.1%. Patients with AIDS and diagnostic delay had a survival rate at one year lower than that in patients without diagnostic delay (30.7% vs 77.8%, p = 0.03). In summary, a predominant sexual transmission was found in our series. Delay of diagnosis entails a greater clinical and immunologic deterioration and a lower survival at one year. Early diagnosis and therapy with anti-retroviral agents might induce a longer survival in these patients.