Thanks to the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, the number of older patients living with HIV, usually defined as individuals over 50 years of age, has markedly increased everywhere in the world.
The aim of this review is to describe the epidemiology and special needs of older persons with HIV in Canada now and in the near future.
It is estimated that, by 2025 in Canada, one in six of all HIV-infected adults will be over 50 years of age. Most will reside in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia and will require a number of specialized health services.
These three provinces need to train extra multidisciplinary manpower and establish appropriate public health policies in order to adequately prepare for this new health care challenge.