Survival of elderly patients with transfusion-related acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influences of age and risk group on the survival of AIDS patients. We concentrated on transfusion because it is the commonest risk factor for AIDS in patients over 70 years of age.

DESIGN

Survival curve regression analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients aged 13 years and over with AIDS acquired through transfusion, and patients 65 years or older with AIDS as a result of intravenous drug use (IVDU). Data were obtained from the New York City Department of Health.

MAIN OUTCOME

The patients were divided into four groups, ages 13-40 years, 41-64 years, and 65 years and over with AIDS as a result of transfusion, and 65 years and older with AIDS as a result of IVDU. The survivals of the three transfusion-related AIDS groups were compared, as were the 65 years-and-over groups with AIDS as a result of transfusion or IVDU. AIDS-defining diagnoses between those over and under 65 years with AIDS as a result of transfusion were also compared.

RESULTS

The median survival for the three transfusion-related AIDS groups were 273 days, 58 days, and 60 days, respectively. There was a significant association between shorter survival and increasing age. This was largely due to the longer survival of the patients aged 13-40 years. There was no difference in AIDS-defining diagnosis between those over and under 65 years with transfusion-related AIDS. The survival curves of the elderly with AIDS as a result of transfusion or IVDU were not different.

CONCLUSION

Age over 40 years is an independent risk factor for poor survival among transfusion-related AIDS patients. Among the elderly, patients with transfusion-related AIDS have similar survivals to patients with IVDU-related AIDS.