The number of people living with HIV (PLWH) ≥65 years is increasing in the United States. By 2035, the proportion of PLWH in this age group is projected to be 27%. As PLWH live longer, they face age-related comorbidities. We compared non-HIV disease and medication burden among PLWH (n = 2359) and HIV-negative individuals (n = 2,010,513) ≥65 years using MarketScan® Medicare Supplemental health insurance claims from 2009 to 2015. Outcomes were common diagnoses and medication classes, prevalence of non-HIV conditions, number of non-HIV conditions, and daily non-antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications over a 1-year period. We examined age-standardized prevalence rates and prevalence ratios (PRs) and fit multivariable generalized linear models, stratified by sex. PLWH were younger (mean 71 vs. 76 years) and a larger proportion were men (81% vs. 45%). The most common diagnoses among both cohorts were hypertension and dyslipidemia. Most non-HIV conditions were more prevalent among PLWH. The largest absolute difference was in anemia (29.6 cases per 100 people vs.11.7) and the largest relative difference was in hepatitis C (PR = 22.0). Unadjusted mean number of non-HIV conditions and daily non-ART medications were higher for PLWH (4.61 conditions and 3.79 medications) than HIV-negative individuals (3.94 and 3.41). In models, PLWH had significantly more non-HIV conditions than HIV-negative individuals [ratios: men = 1.272, (95% confidence interval, 1.233-1.312); women = 1.326 (1.245-1.413)]. Among those with >0 daily non-ART medications, men with HIV had significantly more non-ART medications than HIV-negative men [ratio = 1.178 (1.133-1.226)]. The disease burden associated with aging is substantially higher among PLWH, who may require additional services to effectively manage HIV and comorbid conditions.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Medicare; aging; chronic disease; insurance claims; polypharmacy.