Most people with HIV in the US are over 50 – here’s why that matters
not mean is that HIV is only an older person’s problem.Queerty recently reported on the latest CDC HIV infection figures. Its figures for 2021 showed a significant drop from 2019, with PrEP playing a major role in that decrease.About two-thirds of new HIV infections in 2021 were among gay and bisexual men.
By age, most (9,100) of those were among 25- to 34-year-olds; followed by 13- to 24-year-olds (4,900); and 35- to 44-year-olds (4,000).Around 8,000 of the diagnoses were in people aged 45 or over.Around one in eight people in the US don’t know they have HIV.
Some studies suggest older gay men are less likely to get tested for HIV regularly.Although meds are keeping people with the virus living long and healthy lives, more research needs to be undertaken to determine the impact of HIV on older individuals.
That’s the belief of gerontologist Michael Pessman, writing in Next Avenue. “HIV care and research face new challenges,” he says. “Older people living with HIV also have an increased risk of dementia, osteoporosis, frailty and some cancers.
