Polypharmacy in the HIV-infected older adult population

Abstract

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among people older than 50 years is increasing. Older HIV-infected patients are particularly at risk for polypharmacy because they often have multiple comorbidities that require pharmacotherapy. Overall, there is not much known with respect to both the impact of aging on medication use in HIV-infected individuals, and the potential for interactions with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and coadministered medications and its clinical consequences. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of polypharmacy with a focus on its impact on the HIV-infected older adult population and to also provide some clinical considerations in this high-risk population.

Keywords:

• HIV
• older adults
• polypharmacy

Acknowledgments

The University of Rochester CTSA award KL2 RR024136 funded this work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflict of interest in this work. The sponsor had no role in this work.