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Evaluation of a combined HIV and geriatrics clinic for older people living with HIV: the Silver clinic in Brighton, UK

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posted on 2023-06-09, 22:06 authored by Thomas LevettThomas Levett, Katie AlfordKatie Alford, Jonathan Roberts, Zoe Adler, Juliet Wright, Jaime Vera RojasJaime Vera Rojas
As life expectancy in people living with HIV (PLWH) has increased, the focus of management has shifted to preventing and treating chronic illnesses, but few services exist for the assessment and management of these individuals. Here, we provide an initial description of a geriatric service for people living with HIV and present data from a service evaluation undertaken in the clinic. We conducted an evaluation of the first 52 patients seen in the clinic between 2016 and 2019. We present patient demographic data, assessment outcomes, diagnoses given, and interventions delivered to those seen in the clinic. The average age of attendees was 67. Primary reasons for referral to the clinic included management of complex comorbidities, polypharmacy, and suspected geriatric syndrome (falls, frailty, poor mobility, or cognitive decline). The median (range) number of comorbidities and comedications (non-antiretrovirals) was 7 (2–19) and 9 (1–15), respectively. All attendees had an undetectable viral load. Geriatric syndromes were observed in 26 (50%) patients reviewed in the clinic, with frailty and mental health disease being the most common syndromes. Interventions offered to patients included combination antiretroviral therapy modification, further health investigations, signposting to rehabilitation or social care services, and in-clinic advice. High levels of acceptability among patients and healthcare professionals were reported. The evaluation suggests that specialist geriatric HIV services might play a role in the management of older people with HIV with geriatric syndromes.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Geriatrics

ISSN

2308-3417

Publisher

MDPI

Issue

4

Volume

5

Page range

1-12

Article number

a81

Event location

Switzerland

Department affiliated with

  • Clinical and Experimental Medicine Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-11-10

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2020-11-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-11-10

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