Positive Aging: Evidence Informing the Intersection of HIV, Aging and Health

The prevalence of HIV in older adults combined with potential health concerns of aging, demands a more comprehensive understanding of the health impacts of HIV in older individuals. To fill this knowledge gap, we will systematically review and synthesize the literature on HIV, aging and health and disseminate findings to knowledge users in research, health policy, clinical practice and community practice. Our goal is to initiate an evidence-informed approach to KTE that explores the impacts of aging on the health of older people living with HIV/AIDS by locating and mobilizing research evidence related to: physical health (i.e., physical health symptoms/impairments, physical functioning, sexual health, quality of life); mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, psychological well-being); access to health service (i.e., health service utilization, types of health services used, health service access); and social participation (i.e., social networks, social supports). Our study objectives are: 1) To identify all existing systematic reviews related to HIV and aging; 2) To assess the quality and local applicability of the systematic reviews identified; 3) To map the primary studies related to the health domains for older people living with HIV/AIDS; and 4) To disseminate study findings in user-friendly formats to knowledge users (i.e., health decision-makers, researchers, policy makers, community agencies/members) including strategies to address knowledge gaps.