A recent study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has revealed that progress toward improving the quality of life (QoL) for people with HIV (PWH) aged 50 and older remains limited, raising concerns about meeting key health targets by 2025. The study, conducted by Linda Beer, Ph.D., and colleagues from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights significant gaps in achieving the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s QoL goals for this population.

The research examined five key QoL indicators for older PWH, including self-rated health, mental health service needs, unemployment, hunger or food insecurity, and unstable housing or homelessness. The data, collected from the Medical Monitoring Project between 2017 and 2022, was analyzed to track recent trends and assess the likelihood of meeting the 2025 targets.

Significant Gaps in QoL Goals

According to the study, the 2025 goal of ensuring 95 percent of older PWH report good or better self-rated health remains far from reach, with the 2022 estimate falling 46.2 percent short of this target. Similarly, goals for reducing unemployment, unmet mental health needs, and unstable housing have not seen substantial improvement, with 2022 estimates still falling between 26.3 and 56.3 percent short of the 2025 targets.

The only area where a goal was met was in reducing hunger or food insecurity among PWH aged 65 and older, where a 50 percent reduction has been achieved by 2022.

Challenges in Meeting Future Targets

The report highlights the concerning reality that unless there is a significant shift in recent trends, most of the QoL goals set for 2025 will likely remain unmet. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these challenges and improve the overall well-being of older adults living with HIV.

"CDC will continue to monitor QoL among PWH to identify areas for intervention," the authors note. They emphasize the importance of multisectoral programmatic efforts aimed at addressing the health disparities faced by older PWH and guiding future strategies to enhance their quality of life.

As the older PWH population continues to grow, the study calls for renewed focus on mental health services, housing stability, and employment support to meet the evolving needs of this vulnerable group.