Table 7. Routine Health Care Maintenance in the HIVInfected Adult
Intervention
Recommendation
Blood pressure check
Perform annually in
all patients
Comments
Digital prostate
exam
Consider annually in
all men.
Controversial; testing at an earlier age
may be advisable in men at higher
risk of prostate cancer (e.g., AfricanAmerican, family history)
Ophthalmologic
exam
Perform dilated exam
every 6-12 months in
patients with a CD4
count < 50
Exam with tonometry is advised every
2-3 years in all patients 50 years of age
or older
Depression screening
Perform annually in
all patients
Use conventional mental health
interview or standardized test
Fasting glucose
Perform every
6-12 months in all
patients
Consider testing 1-3 months after
starting or modifying antiretroviral
therapy. Hemoglobin A1c level should
be performed every 6 months in
patients with diabetes mellitus.
Fasting lipid profile
Perform every
6-12 months in all
patients
Consider testing 1-3 months after
starting or modifying antiretroviral
therapy
Syphilis serology
(RPR, VDRL)
Perform annually in
patients at risk for
STDs
More frequent testing may be indicated
in patients at high risk for STDs
Gonorrhea and
chlamydia testing
Perform annually in
patients at risk for
STDs
More frequent testing may be indicated
in patients at high risk for STDs
Prostate-specific
antigen (PSA)
Discuss pros and
cons with patient
and consider
annually in men age
50 years or older
Controversial; testing at an earlier
age may be advisable in men at higher
risk of prostate cancer (e.g., AfricanAmerican, family history)
Tuberculin screening
test
Perform annually
in patients at risk
for TB
No need to repeat in patients with
prior positive PPD; additional TB
testing may be indicated depending on
potential exposure
Continued on next page.
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