- San Francisco researchers studied quality of life for people with HIV over 50
- 58% of study participants experienced some degree of loneliness
- Previous research found associations between loneliness and poor health
Due to advances in treatment many HIV-positive people can have near-normal life expectancy and more of them are reaching their senior years. Therefore, researchers need to better understand the issues faced by this population.
A team of researchers in San Francisco enrolled 356 HIV-positive people in a study to assess different aspects of their health and well-being. Participants were in their mid-to-late 50s. Nearly 60% of participants experienced some degree of loneliness. Participants who were lonely were more likely to have the following:
- symptoms of depression
- use of alcohol and tobacco
- low income
- poor health-related quality of life
The researchers stated: “A comprehensive care approach, incorporating mental health and psychosocial assessments with more traditional clinical assessments, will be needed to improve health outcomes for the aging HIV-positive population.”
Study details
Researchers conducted an assessment of the health and well-being of participants at one point in time for the study. In particular, they assessed health-related quality of life, social support and the ability to carry out everyday activities. They used well-validated surveys and were also able to assess the results of blood tests.
In general, participants were in their mid-to-late 50s, 85% were men and 15% were women, and 57% were white. About 70% of participants were lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Results
A total of 58% of participants reported some degree of loneliness, distributed as follows:
- mild loneliness – 24%
- moderate loneliness – 22%
- severe loneliness – 12%
Compared to people who were not lonely, participants who were lonely were more likely to have the following factors:
- use tobacco
- engage in problematic use of alcohol or other substances
- symptoms of depression
- poor health-related quality of life
Problems with carrying out basic everyday activities
Researchers also assessed participants’ ability to engage in activities of everyday life, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding themselves and so on. People who were lonely and who had problems carrying out basic everyday activities tended to have the following:
- low income
- symptoms of depression
- other health problems such as kidney and liver injury
General implications of loneliness
In the present study, loneliness was common, reported by almost 60% of participants. Some studies among HIV-negative people have found that some lonely elderly people have greater chances of the following:
- increased levels of inflammation
- increased presence of unhealthy behaviours that heighten the risk for heart attack and stroke
However, due to issues related to their design, these studies in HIV-negative people cannot prove that loneliness caused these outcomes. Rather, it is possible that there are other factors—smoking; insufficient physical activity; unrecognized, untreated or poorly managed mental health issues—that are more common in people who are lonely that affected the findings of these studies. Still, being lonely is distressing and affects a person’s quality of life and possibly their overall health and survival, and therefore it deserves further attention.
Bear in mind
The overall rate of loneliness in the present study was high—almost 60%. According to the researchers, other studies with HIV-positive people have reported rates of loneliness between 30% and 46%. A difference between the present study and those other studies is that the present study focused solely on people over the age of 50.
Studies among HIV-negative people aged 65 and older have found rates of loneliness around 40%.
The present study captured data at one point in time and provides a foundation for planning future long-term studies. The researchers stated that such studies “should include a broader range of participants, including those from diverse geographic regions (both urban and rural areas), women and those who acquired HIV through non-MSM contact, to understand more about loneliness across a [broad range] of adults living with HIV.” Such studies also need to find ways to foster interaction and friendship among older people.
CATIE Resources
Italian and U.S. researchers look to the future and explore aging-related issues – CATIE News
Frailty, nerve injury and falls in middle-aged and older HIV-positive people – CATIE News
Factors linked to falling in HIV-positive women – TreatmentUpdate 218
Nerve pain and numbness from A Practical Guide to HIV Drug Side Effects
Unravelling the complexity of HIV and fatigue – CATIE News
Older people with HIV face different long-term health challenges – CATIE News
Denmark—unexpected trends in use of psychotropic medicines – TreatmentUpdate 204
Danish study raises questions about accelerated aging in HIV – CATIE News
Long-term HIV infection and health-related quality of life – CATIE News
Dutch doctors explore intersection of aging and HIV – CATIE News
Geriatric syndromes found to be common among some people with HIV – CATIE News
Strengthening the aging brain — TreatmentUpdate 203
Longer life expectancy for HIV-positive people in North America – TreatmentUpdate 200
HIV and aging – Healthy living tips for people 50 and over living with HIV
Non-CATIE Resources
Quantification of biological aging in young adults – Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA
Management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Advanced Age – Journal of the American Medical Association
“America’s other drug problem: Giving the elderly too many prescriptions” – Washington Post
The CIHR Comorbidity Agenda – Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR’s HIV Comorbidity Research Agenda: Relevant Research Areas
Factsheets on HIV and aging in Canada – Canadian AIDS Society
HIV & Aging: A 2013 Environmental Scan of Programs and Services in Canada – Community Report – realize (formerly the Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation – CWGHR)
Directory of Promising Programs and Services for Older People Living with HIV in Canada – realize
—Sean R. Hosein
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