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Doubling of Rates of HIV in Nursing Homes - Nursing Home Residents by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status: Characteristics, Dementia Diagnoses, and Antipsychotic Use
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"Nursing Home Residents by HIV Status: Characteristics, Dementia Diagnoses, and Antipsychotic Use" by Susan C. Miller and colleagues used population-based Medicaid and Minimum Data Set data from 14 states with the highest HIV prevalence and found that the prevalence of long-stay residents (>89 d) with HIV increased 71% from 2001 to 2010.3 In the highest prevalence states of New Jersey, Louisiana, Florida, New York, and Maryland, the absolute proportion of nursing home residents living with HIV exceeded 2% by late 2008. If these trends have continued, nearly 4% of long-stay nursing home residents in these states are now people living with HIV (PLWH). Compared with long-stay nursing home residents without HIV infection, PLWH were 10 to 20 years younger, and dementia was more common in younger residents (among residents older than 65 years, 20% HIV-positive patients had dementia vs 16% uninfected)."
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Given an aging human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) population, we aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV for long-stay residents in US nursing homes (NHs) between 2001 and 2010 and to compare characteristics and diagnoses of HIV-positive (HIV+) and negative (HIV-) residents. Also, for residents with dementia diagnoses, we compared antipsychotic (APS) medication receipt by HIV status.
DESIGN
A cross-sectional comparative study.
SETTING
NHs in the 14 states accounting for 75% of persons living with HIV.
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 9 245 009 long-stay NH residents.
MEASUREMENTS
Using Medicaid fee-for-service claims data in the years 2001 to 2010, together with Medicare resident assessment and Chronic Condition Warehouse data, we identified long-stay (more than 89 days) NH residents by HIV status and dementia presence. We examined dementia presence by age groups and APS medication receipt by younger (aged younger than 65 years) vs older (aged 65 years or older) residents, using logistic regression.
RESULTS
Between 2001 and 2010, the prevalence of long-stay residents with HIV in NHs increased from 0.7% to 1.2%, a 71% increase. Long-stay residents with HIV were younger and less often female or white. For younger NH residents, rates of dementia were 20% and 16% for HIV+ and HIV- residents, respectively; they were 53% and 57%, respectively, for older residents. In adjusted analyses, younger HIV+ residents with dementia had greater odds of APS medication receipt than did HIV- residents (AOR = 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-1.4), but older HIV residents had lower odds (AOR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.8-0.9).
For those aged 65 years or older, the prevalence of renal failure, diabetes, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was higher for HIV+ residents.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of long-stay HIV+ NH residents has increased over time, and given the rapid aging of the HIV population, this increase is likely to have continued. This study raises concern about potential differential quality of care for (younger) residents with HIV in NHs, but not for those aged 65 years and older. These findings contribute to the evidence base needed to ensure high-quality care for younger and older HIV+ residents in NHs.
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Editorial
What Does Aging with HIV Mean for Nursing Homes?
Amy C. Justice, MD, PhD
Kathleen M. Akgun, MD, MS
Medicine Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System,
West Haven, Connecticut
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven,
Connecticut
"In sum, much remains to be done if people with HIV are to be allowed to age with grace and dignity. Studies such as the one by Miller et al are a start. Let's get to work.....By 2030, 73% of people living with HIV in Europe are projected to be 50 years of age or older.2 .....highest HIV prevalence and found that the prevalence of long-stay residents (>89 d) with HIV increased 71% from 2001 to 2010.....PLWH were 10 to 20 years younger, and dementia was more common in younger residents (among residents older than 65 years, 20% HIV-positive patients had dementia vs 16% uninfected)......In the highest prevalence states of New Jersey, Louisiana, Florida, New York, and Maryland, the absolute proportion of nursing home residents living with HIV exceeded 2% by late 2008. If these trends have continued, nearly 4% of long-stay nursing home residents in these states are now people living with HIV (PLWH). Compared with long-stay nursing home residents without HIV infection
Miller et al also found a greater use of antipsychotics among younger HIV-infected residents compared with younger uninfected residents. ........Those aging with HIV have greater levels of physiologic injury reflected in poorer liver, renal, and bone marrow function,4-6 making them more susceptible to adverse events associated with polypharmacy.......higher CNS Penetration Effectiveness score of the ARVs was associated with a 74% increased risk for dementia.7 Specific ARVs were associated with adverse neuropsychological events and neurocognitive impairment......Using data from the International Place of Death Study that included 11 countries, most PLWH die in the hospital and, compared with patients with cancer, PLWH are more likely to die in a nursing home (PLWH = 0.9-17.0% vs cancer = 1.0-10.8%).18 It is reasonable to assume that many of these individuals would prefer to die in more familiar settings"
Abstract
This editorial comments on the article by Miller et al.
Worldwide, more people are living, and aging, with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than ever before.1 Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed HIV infection from a rapidly fatal disease to a chronic condition with an extended life expectancy. The North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration (NA-ACCORD) contributed Figure 1 that demonstrates the changing age demographic among men and women living and dying with HIV infection from 2001 through 2016. Of note, in 2001, 25.6% of HIV deaths occurred among those 50 years of age or older. By 2016, this proportion doubled. Further, this phenomenon is not unique to North America. By 2030, 73% of people living with HIV in Europe are projected to be 50 years of age or older.2
Despite these trends, few studies have described the impact of aging with HIV on nursing home utilization. One study, published in the current issue of this journal, focused on long-stay nursing home residents from 2001 to 2010 and compared HIV-infected with uninfected residents. "Nursing Home Residents by HIV Status: Characteristics, Dementia Diagnoses, and Antipsychotic Use" by Susan C. Miller and colleagues used population-based Medicaid and Minimum Data Set data from 14 states with the highest HIV prevalence and found that the prevalence of long-stay residents (>89 d) with HIV increased 71% from 2001 to 2010.3 In the highest prevalence states of New Jersey, Louisiana, Florida, New York, and Maryland, the absolute proportion of nursing home residents living with HIV exceeded 2% by late 2008. If these trends have continued, nearly 4% of long-stay nursing home residents in these states are now people living with HIV (PLWH). Compared with long-stay nursing home residents without HIV infection, PLWH were 10 to 20 years younger, and dementia was more common in younger residents (among residents older than 65 years, 20% HIV-positive patients had dementia vs 16% uninfected).
Miller et al also found a greater use of antipsychotics among younger HIV-infected residents compared with younger uninfected residents. The fact that PLWH in nursing homes may be more likely to receive a potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) such as an antipsychotic, is concerning. The harmful effects of PIMs may be intensified among those aging with HIV. Those aging with HIV have greater levels of physiologic injury reflected in poorer liver, renal, and bone marrow function,4-6 making them more susceptible to adverse events associated with polypharmacy.
Of note, antiretroviral medications (ARVs) have important neurocognitive side effects and drug interactions. Among younger subjects, in the HIV-CAUSAL collaboration, a higher CNS Penetration Effectiveness score of the ARVs was associated with a 74% increased risk for dementia.7 Specific ARVs were associated with adverse neuropsychological events and neurocognitive impairment.8 Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors may lead to mitochondrial toxicity of neurons that can then cause neuropathy, psychosis, depression, and mania.8 Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, most notably efavirenz, are also associated with adverse central nervous system drug effects including sleep disturbances, vivid dreams, depression, and cognitive impairments.9 These side effects and drug interactions have not been well studied among older PLWH.
A recent complementary analysis to that of Miller et al used data on Medicare-eligible PLWH and focused on new nursing home admissions among PLWH, comparing admissions from 1998 to 2000 with those from 2011 to 2013.10 Comparing the two time intervals, recent admissions of PLWH were 16 years older (60 vs 44 y), had twice the prevalence of viral hepatitis (16% vs 8%) and more anemia (31% vs 25%) but had less pneumonia (11% vs 14%) and less than half as much dementia (9% vs 21%). Taken together, these studies suggest that the proportion of PLWH admitted to and experiencing extended nursing home admissions is growing, that the difference in age at admission among PLWH and those without is narrowing, and that the profile of disease may differ in important ways by HIV status.
These initial studies on nursing home use among PLWH make valuable contributions but only begin to address the myriad medical, psychological, social, and societal issues surrounding HIV care in nursing homes. Aging with HIV is not just like aging without HIV. Liver and kidney disease are more common in PLWH in nursing homes than in uninfected individuals.10 Many common forms of cancer including lung, anal, lymphoma, and hepatocellular cancer are more common among those aging with HIV.11 The proportion of PLWH who develop end-stage diseases requiring transplant, dialysis, surgery, repeated rounds of chemotherapy, and/or radiation is likely to grow, and long-term placement for these levels of care may be particularly challenging.
Controlling for age, PLWH experience more intense levels of chronic inflammation, microbial translocation, hypercoagulability, and immune dysfunction than their uninfected counterparts.12 As a result of the sociodemographic factors and behaviors that put them at risk of HIV infection and as a result of the virus and its treatment, they experience multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and physiologic frailty earlier,13 and they are more susceptible to its harms than uninfected counterparts.6 In addition, many older individuals with HIV continue to feel stigmatized and suffer discrimination in settings less familiar with HIV and its modern care.14-16 This may be particularly true in the nursing home setting where PLWH will continue to be a minority. Stigma can substantially limit engagement in medical care, adherence to ART, and quality of life among those aging with HIV infection. It may also prove a barrier to nursing home admission.
In addition, palliative medicine principles are essential to sustaining quality of life during aging. Providers and people aging with HIV need to consider how best to approach treatment preferences.17 For PLWH in resource-poor areas, physical symptom burden may be similar to that experienced by patients living with cancer and requires careful symptom assessment and management. In all settings, person-centered care should address spiritual needs and psychological suffering.
Finally, end-of-life planning is a topic that needs to be revisited in the era of effective ART therapy for HIV infection. Using data from the International Place of Death Study that included 11 countries, most PLWH die in the hospital and, compared with patients with cancer, PLWH are more likely to die in a nursing home (PLWH = 0.9-17.0% vs cancer = 1.0-10.8%).18 It is reasonable to assume that many of these individuals would prefer to die in more familiar settings, surrounded by those with whom they have had extended, meaningful relationships. That requires more accurate prognostic assessment than can be achieved with CD4 cell count, HIV-1 RNA copies, and age. Using a wider set of physiologic measures,19, 20 it is possible to identify individuals nearing the end of life in the current treatment era.
In sum, much remains to be done if people with HIV are to be allowed to age with grace and dignity. Studies such as the one by Miller et al are a start. Let's get to work.
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