After the news that erectile dysfunction drugs have been linked to rising rates of sexually-transmitted infections amongst the over-40s, an alarming new report has indicated that there has been a huge jump in the number of over-60s contracting HIV.
The number of new cases recorded across Britain has risen by 60% over the past 7 years, going from 299 new cases in 2000 to 710 new cases in 2007. Older adults made up 8% of all new HIV diagnosis.
The research showed that older, straight adults were likely to have contracted the infection in the UK, though there was evidence that a significant number of white, heterosexuals were picking up the illness while abroad.
Half of the new cases were only diagnosed ‘late’, making an early death far more likely.A late diagnosis is defined as when the CD4 white cell count is less than 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. In a healthy adult, the CD4 count would be 600 or above.
While anti-viral medications have made life expectancy for those living with HIV in the West almost that of a healthy adult, late diagnosis significantly reduces a patient’s chances of survival.
A senior scientist at the Health Protection Agency, Ruth Smith, warned that nearly half of older adults who tested positive became infected when they were over 50, highlighting the need for sexually active adults to get regular sexual health check-ups whatever their age.