HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN CHINA DURING 2005-2012: RESULTS FROM TREND AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS

Background Recent studies have indicated towards an increasing burden of HIV/AIDS among older adults. To describe the trend and spatial characteristics of this disease among individuals aged 50 years and above, analysis of data collected during 2005-2012 through the National Case Reporting System (CRS) in China was conducted. Methods: All the identified people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) recorded through the Chinese HIV/AIDS CRS during 2005-2012 were included in the study, excepting the cases without specific spatial information. Trend tests and spatial analyses were conducted. Results: Altogether, information about 73, 521 PLWHA (aged 50 and above) were collected between 2005 and 2012. Three provinces - Guangxi, Henan and Yunnan - accounted for 54.4% of the identified cases during the study period. Compared to 2005, the ratio between residents and migrants among the study population decreased to 40.1% in 2012. Ratio of HIV infected to AIDS patients and the male/female ratio increased gradually among older infected adults. Results of spatial analysis indicate a clustered distribution of HIV/AIDS among older adults across the country. Presence of hotspots was observed in four provinces (Guangxi, Henan, Yunnan, Sichuan) and one municipality (Chongqing). A moving trend towards southern provinces (from central China) was also identified. Conclusions: The number and proportion of HIV/AIDS among older adults have increased during recent years. The infection remained clustered and the hotspots showed movement from central to southern China. A focused intervention strategy targeting the older PLWHA is urgently required in China.