NSG 325 Acquired_Immunodeficiency_Syndrome_2021 | Acquired_Immunodeficiency_Syndrome

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ■ Dr Nancie Crespi, PhD, RN ■ Stratford University Objectives ■ Describe the virus responsible for AIDS ■ Describe the mechanisms of HIV transmission ■ Explain the alterations in immune function that occur in the AIDS patient ■ Describe the CDC HIV/AIDS classification system ■ Discuss the clinical course of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS and Older Adults ■ An increasingly significant trend in the global HIV epidemic is the growing number of people aged 50 years and older who are living with HIV ■ 37% of people in the United States with HIV are over age 50 ■ The largest increase in HIV diagnoses from 2008 to 2010 was among people aged 65 and older ■ The compromised immune system of an older person makes him or her more susceptible to HIV/AIDS ■ Sexually active older men and women do not routinely use condoms HIV/AIDS and Older Adults (Cont.) Assessment ■ A thorough sex and drug use/assessment screening should be conducted with attention to HIV risk factors ■ Many symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, and anorexia are common to other disease conditions and may be attributed to normal aging ■ Many U.S. guidelines recommend HIV testing among high-risk groups regardless of age but routine screening recommendations differ and some have a cutoff age of 65 years ■ Medicare covers annual screenings for HIV for those at risk or who ask for a test