Design: Cross-sectional analysis of interview data on HIV-infected individuals collected in the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS). Outcome measures: Measures of social support, quality of life (QOL), and emotional well being. QOL consisted of 8 indicators, including physical health composite score, overall health, overall QOL, general health, energy, physical functioning, role and social functioning. Social support included tangible & emotional support, conflict, contact and number of close friends. Emotional well being consisted of mental health and emotional well being scores. Results: Age effects were different across domains of Socioeconomic circumstances, social support, physical functioning and emotional well being. Socioeconomic disparities between risk groups were sharpest at older ages. Older IDUs constitute a highly disadvantaged subgroup, predominantly minority with low income levels, education, employment and insurance, while older gay men were relatively advantaged, in relation to other older respondents and to younger gay men. In multivariate analyses, older IDUs reported worse physical health, emotional support, and role functioning than younger counterparts while older gay men did not, and reported a larger age gap in physical functioning than was the case for gay men. Older gay men reported better mental health than their younger, while there was no significant age difference for IDUs. Conclusions: Findings suggest HIV+ older population may be appropriately viewed as a distinct subpopulation with a high degree of heterogeneity. Older gay men tend to have stronger socioeconomic resources, advantages in physical health/functional status, and better emotional well-being in comparison with younger counterparts, while older IDUs face more difficulties.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.