Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are rising in some regions of the world among older adults but not in the United States, according to a new report.
Specifically, the incidence of HIV and STIs has gone up in people aged 60 to 89 years old in eastern Europe, Central Asia and high-income Asia Pacific areas, the report published in last month’s issue of Lancet Healthy Longevity found.
Older people may be more prone to infections including HIV and STIs such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes, the authors noted. Scientists evaluated trends in HIV and STIs among people between the ages of 60 and 89 living in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019.
Overall, the number of older adults with HIV and STIs has gone down over the last decades. Still, there were more than 77,000 new cases of HIV and almost 26.5 million new cases of other STIs in older adults in 2019. Trichomoniasis was the most prevalent STI in older adults worldwide, the data showed.
In addition to possible impaired immunity as a reason for the rise, biological, psychological, cultural, and societal factors contribute to the higher vulnerability, the authors noted.
Two possible reasons for the rise, the researchers speculated: As people age, they may have new sexual partners (a rise in divorces could play a role). Older adults also may be less likely to use protective methods during sex, or know about using them.
“In general, there is a lot of attention on the prevention of HIV and other STIs in younger populations. Older individuals are often excluded from prevention programs,” Evandro Fei Fang, an associate professor at the University of Oslo, said in a statement.
Advances in the treatment may contribute to a higher incidence in some parts of the world because people are living longer even if they have an STI.
“We need to pay attention to STIs in the older population,” Fang said. “Healthcare providers should be aware that aging societies can lead to increased numbers of older adults at risk of HIV and other STIs, should be aware of societal factors that can increase this risk, and should develop age-appropriate interventions.”
