HIV Infection in Patients Aged Over 50 in the Infectious Diseases Unit at Brazzaville University Hospital: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Objective: The prevalence of HIV infection in people aged is of significant importance. We determined the prevalence of HIV infection with patients aged over 50 at the Brazzaville University Hospital and look for its associated factors. Patients and Method: Cases of HIV infection in patients over 50 years admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit of Brazzaville University Hospital were examined under cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study. This survey concerns the period going from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. Results: There were one hundred and ninety-four patients (8.2% of admissions). Their mean age was 57.40 ± 6.4 years [50-93], they were mostly female (n = 113; 58.2%). The most dominant population was the age group between 50-59 years (n = 136; 70.1%). They were single people (n = 80; 41.2%), without profession (n = 87; 44.8%), with a primary education level (n = 81; 41.8%), hypertensive (n = 27; 13.9%), diabetics (n = 15; 7.7%). HIV infection was discovered during hospitalization (n = 111; 57.2%), for deterioration of the general condition (n = 72; 37.1%), long-term fever (n = 56; 28.9%), chronic cough (n = 40; 20.6%). The patients were at WHO stage 3 (n = 133; 68.6%). The mean CD4 were 188.5 ± 11.7 / mm3 [19-433]. In 172 cases (88.7%), the patients had two sexual partners and did not use a condom (n = 189; 97.4%). The main opportunistic infections were tuberculosis (n = 74; 18.1%) and cerebral toxoplasmosis (n = 48; 24.7%). ART was made with the combination of TDF + FTC + EFV (n = 79; 40.7%). The observation was poor in 33% (n = 64) and unfavourable outcome in 47.4% (n = 92). These were IRIS (n = 5; 2.6%) and death (n = 85; 43.8%), due to anaemic shock (n = 17; 20%), septic shock (n = 8; 9.4%). Marital status (P = 0.04), WHO stage (p = 0.02), and non-compliance treatment (p = 0.0001) could have the link with the death patients. Conclusion: HIV infection in people over 50 years is relatively common at Brazzaville University Hospital, especially among single women. The lethality remains high, unrelated to an opportunistic infection but rather with the notion of non-compliance with treatment and the advanced stage of HIV infection according to the WHO classification. This shows the interest in raising awareness among this population for early detection and the treatment of HIV.