ICAP, Columbia University, New York, USA.
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Gender, Sexuality and Health, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.
Afr J AIDS Res. 2021 Mar;20(1):107-115. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2021.1887301.
: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has decreased HIV-related morbidity and mortality and increased life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Globally, the number of older PLHIV (OPLHIV; ≥50 years) is growing and predicted to increase substantially in coming years. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of OPLHIV reside, there are limited data on the health and well-being of OPLHIV.: We conducted an exploratory descriptive study that included structured interviews with 50 OPLHIV receiving ART at an outpatient HIV clinic in Eswatini and in-depth qualitative interviews (IDIs) with a sub-set of ten participants to elicit their experiences of living with HIV as an older adult, including quality of life, physical health, and mental health. Quantitative analyses were performed to obtain both descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations. A thematic analysis of IDI narratives was conducted based on three levels of the socio-ecological model to identify sub-themes and response patterns.: All study participants were virally suppressed. Self-reported non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors and markers were common, with 40% ( = 20) reporting being current or former smokers, 0% consuming the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and 57% ( = 28 of 49 reporting screening) reporting having hypertension. However, the majority (88%; 44 of 50) had sufficient physical activity; most of the activity was in the work domain. Slightly more than one-third (38%; 13 of 34 tested) had a high random blood sugar level. Barriers to living with HIV were primarily structural (food insecurity, unemployment, access to transportation and health care).: OPLHIV should be screened for NCDs, and services for NCDs should ideally be integrated with HIV services. While all participants had controlled HIV, this study highlights the need for strategies that facilitate OPLHIV's HIV service utilisation. With the increasing numbers of OPLHIV, these issues cannot be ignored.
: 抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART）降低了与 HIV 相关的发病率和死亡率，提高了 HIV 感染者（PLHIV）的预期寿命。在全球范围内，老年 PLHIV（≥50 岁）的数量正在增加，并预计在未来几年内会大幅增加。在撒哈拉以南非洲，大多数 OPLHIV 居住在那里，关于 OPLHIV 的健康和福祉的数据有限。: 我们进行了一项探索性描述性研究，该研究包括对斯威士兰一家门诊艾滋病毒诊所接受 ART 的 50 名 OPLHIV 进行结构化访谈，并对其中 10 名参与者进行深入定性访谈（IDI），以了解他们作为老年人感染 HIV 的经历，包括生活质量、身体健康和心理健康。进行了定量分析，以获得描述性统计数据和交叉表。根据社会生态模型的三个层次对 IDI 叙述进行了主题分析，以确定子主题和反应模式。: 所有研究参与者的病毒均得到抑制。自我报告的非传染性疾病（NCD）风险因素和标志物很常见，40%（=20）报告为当前或曾经吸烟者，0%每天食用推荐量的水果和蔬菜，57%（=49 名报告筛查者中的 28 名）报告患有高血压。然而，大多数人（88%；44 名中的 44 名）有足够的身体活动；大部分活动发生在工作领域。略多于三分之一（38%；34 名检测者中的 13 名）随机血糖水平较高。与 HIV 一起生活的障碍主要是结构性的（粮食不安全、失业、获得交通和医疗保健的机会）。: OPLHIV 应接受 NCD 筛查，NCD 服务理想情况下应与 HIV 服务相结合。虽然所有参与者的 HIV 都得到了控制，但这项研究强调了需要采取策略，促进 OPLHIV 利用 HIV 服务。随着 OPLHIV 人数的增加，这些问题不容忽视。
