Perspectives of people living with HIV age 50 and over regarding barriers and resources for care

ABSTRACT

With early and effective antiretroviral therapy leading to improved life expectancy in people with HIV (PWH), PWH aged 50 or older face concerns and issues related to aging. Providers at the University of Colorado identified a need to assess the healthcare needs of PWH aged 50 and older at the UCHealth Infectious Diseases/Travel (TEAM) Clinic in Aurora, Colorado. A survey was developed to illuminate participants’ general rating of their health, factors that made it challenging to get the healthcare needed prior to COVID-19 and during COVID-19, and types of healthcare appointments and providers that would make a difference in healthcare experience. Descriptive statistics and brief thematic analysis of open-ended questions found that most participants rated their current health as very good or good. Participants noted that connecting to resources and appointment scheduling were the top challenges prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants described challenges with resource connection, communication with providers, and wait times. To reduce these barriers, telehealth video appointments, healthcare visits with a provider who specializes in aging, and healthcare visits with providers who specialize in aging if co-located in the HIV clinic were recognized as beneficial resources from the perspectives of participants.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV & aging care
• geriatric care
• older adults with HIV
• HIV care continuum

Disclosure statement

AD has no competing interests to declare. JW has received consulting fees from Janssen/Simpson Healthcare related to HIV and aging. MG receives grant support from Gilead and receives royalties from Wolters Kluwer Health for a chapter in UpToDate on HIV and aging. KME has received grant funding from Gilead Sciences (paid to the University) and consulting payments from Gilead, Janssen, and ViiV (all paid to the University).

Notes

1 Adapted from SF-36 Questionnaire, which was developed at RAND as part of the Medical Outcomes Study

2 Adapted from SF-36 Questionnaire, which was developed at RAND as part of the Medical Outcomes Study

3 Adapted from SF-36 Questionnaire, which was developed at RAND as part of the Medical Outcomes Study

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded and supported in part by the Infectious Diseases Society of America Grants for Emerging Researchers/Clinicians Mentoring (G.E.R.M.) Program to AD.