Older Adults Accessing HIV Care and Treatment and Adherence in the IeDEA Central Africa Cohort. (16th February 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newman, Jamie; Iriondo-Perez, Jeniffer; Hemingway-Foday, Jennifer; Freeman, Anna; Akam, Wilfred; Balimba, Ashu; Kalenga, Lucien; Mbaya, Marcel; Mfangam Molu, Brigitte; Mukumbi, Henri; Niyongabo, Théodore; Atibu, Joseph; Azinyue, Innocent; Kiumbu, Modeste
• Other Names: Sohn Annette H. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: AIDS research and treatment. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-02-16
• Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Research -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Services for -- Periodicals; 616.979205
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/725713
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-1240

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Very little is known about older adults accessing HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and Methods . Data were obtained from 18, 839 HIV-positive adults at 10 treatment programs in Burundi, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We compared characteristics of those aged 50+ with those aged 18–49 using chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to determine if age was associated with medication adherence. Results . 15% of adults were 50+ years. Those aged 50+ were more evenly distributed between women and men (56% versus 44%) as compared to those aged 18–49 (71% versus 29%) and were more likely to be hypertensive (8% versus 3%) (P < 0.05 ). Those aged 50+ were more likely to be adherent to their medications than those aged 18–49 (P < 0.001 ). Adults who were not heavy drinkers reported better adherence as compared to those who reported drinking three or more alcoholic beverages per day (P < 0.001 ). Conclusions . Older adults differed from their younger counterparts in terms of medication adherence, sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics.