To date, HIV prevention efforts aimed at older individuals have been scarce. Therefore, it is not surprising that studies have found that older people are less knowledgeable about HIV than younger individuals [17,18]. Nonetheless, compared with younger individuals, CP-868596 nmr older people have been found to be just as or even more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours, such as many sexual partners and not using a condom [17,19]. The issue of HIV infection among older people generates increasing concern, especially

as more people age with HIV as a result of the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy. At the same time, older people do engage in risky sexual behaviours and many HIV infections do occur in this age group. Still, initiatives to prevent transmission of HIV in this age group have been limited. Moreover, probably because Selumetinib research buy of misconceptions and deferential symptoms related to ageing, many

older people are not tested for HIV, at least not in time for them to benefit from early treatment. Finally, older people with HIV may further face particular adversities in terms of comorbid conditions and stigma compared with their younger counterparts. Yet, knowledge about treatment, for example the potential for drug–drug interactions, in this age group is limited [20]. Hence, in order to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support – and sexual behaviour in Europe – it is important that the clinical outcomes of older people are not overlooked. One study, EuroSIDA, a pan-European observational study that follows 14 265 HIV-infected patients from 31 European countries, Israel and Argentina, is already showing substantial regional differences in demographic Methocarbamol and clinical

characteristics of people living with HIV [21]. We would like to thank Annemarie Rinder Stengaard of WHO/Europe for her help with the data collection. “
“HIV infection is associated with higher than expected cardiovascular event rates and lowered platelet counts. These conditions are associated with an elevation of mean platelet volume (MPV). The present study compared MPV in HIV-infected and uninfected women and identified factors influencing MPV values in HIV-infected women. A total of 234 HIV-infected and 134 HIV-uninfected participants from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) had MPV values obtained. HIV-infected women were older, were more likely to have diabetes and had higher triglyceride levels than HIV-uninfected women. The mean platelet count was lower in HIV-infected vs. uninfected women [249 cells/μL (95% confidence interval (CI) 238, 259 cells/μL) vs. 276 cells/μL (95% CI 265, 287 cells/μL), respectively; P < 0.01]. Adjusted mean MPV values were lower in the HIV-infected than in the uninfected group [8.66 fL (95% CI 8.52, 8.79 fL) vs. 9.05 fL (95% CI 8.87, 9.