The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71172

Faye E. Malitz, MS¹, Alice Kroliczak, PhD², and Christy Bush, MHS¹. (1) Office of Science and Epidemiology, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Dept of Health and Human Services, Parklawn Bldg Rm 7-90, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-3259, FMalitz@HRSA.GOV, (2) HAB/OSE, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rm. 7-90, Rockville, MD 20857

Treatment advances have resulted in HIV-infected people living longer but, as they live longer, they are faced with the health problems and complications of an aging population in addition to those associated with HIV/AIDS. Program data reveal that CARE Act grantees and their providers are serving an increasingly larger proportion of aging clients. Across CARE Act programs, the proportion of clients served age 45 years or older increased, on average, by 9 to 10 percent from 1998 to 2001. CARE Act service planners must consider that an aging population of people living with HIV may result in an increased demand for medical care and other services. Data from five HRSA supported Client Level Data Demonstration Project sites were used to examine service utilization by clients age 18 years and older. Significant differences were detected in the types of services used and average number of service visits per client by age. Older clients had a significantly higher average number of visits for medical care than did younger clients regardless of disease stage (p< .001). Conversely, younger clients had higher average number of visits for other health care services such as mental health and substance abuse counseling and treatment. Younger clients were also significantly more likely to use more CARE Act funded support services than were older clients. This presentation describes the variation in the use of CARE Act funded services by age.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
• List the potential reasons for an increase in demand for services within an aging HIV-infected population.
• Describe variations in service utilization by age for a convenience sample of Ryan White CARE Act clients.
• Discuss the implications of an aging HIV-infected population for service planning.

Keywords: Ryan White, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.