How Long Can I Expect to Live After Getting HIV?
PROF.DRRAM ,HIV/AIDS,SEX DISEASES,SEX WEAKNESS & ABORTION SPECIALIST
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The answer is both simple and not-so-simple. By and large, the outlook is extremely positive. With the proven effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), people with HIV can today expect to live longer and healthier than ever
if infection is detected and treated early (before immune function is compromised) and
if they are able to ensure viral suppression by maintaining life-long adherence once therapy started.
To some, that may seem like a lot of "if's."
But the truth is that HIV is a very different disease than it was 10 years ago. Maintaining adherence is easier today with drugs that offer lower pill burdens, less side effects, and far superior drug resistance profiles to previous-generation drugs.
Because of this, a 20-year-old HIV-positive individual on cART in the U.S. and Canada can now expect to live into his or her early 70s, according to data from the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD).
That's an impressive 15 year increase since 2002, edging us ever closer to what are considered normal life expectancy levels in the U.S. (78.9 year).
The Impact of HIV Comorbidities on Longevity
But that, of course, brings us back to all of those "if's."
Ultimately, longevity can really only be determined by the cumulative factors that either increase or decrease life expectancy in person with HIV. These factors range from things we can control (such as treatment adherence or lifestyle choices) to things we can't (such as race or economic status).
Furthermore, the proper treatment and management of HIV is only part of the game. Even for people able to maintain full viral suppression, the risk for the development of non-HIV-related comorbidities, such as cancer or heart disease, is far greater that of the general population, and generally develops 10 years earlier than people who don't have HIV.
So profound are these concerns that, in the developed world, a person living with HIV is far more likely to die prematurely of a comorbid condition than an HIV-related one.
Therefore, proactively addressing both HIV-related and non-HIV-related health issues is vital in ensuring not only long life, but long quality of life in people with HIV.
PROF.DRRAM ,HIV/AIDS,SEX DISEASES,SEX WEAKNESS & ABORTION SPECIALIST
profdrram@gmail.com,+917838059592,+919832025033 DELHI –NCR,INDIA
FOLLOW ON FACE BOOK:www.facebook.com/drramkumar
FOLLOW ON TWITTER:www.twitter.com/profdrram
The answer is both simple and not-so-simple. By and large, the outlook is extremely positive. With the proven effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), people with HIV can today expect to live longer and healthier than ever
if infection is detected and treated early (before immune function is compromised) and
if they are able to ensure viral suppression by maintaining life-long adherence once therapy started.
To some, that may seem like a lot of "if's."
But the truth is that HIV is a very different disease than it was 10 years ago. Maintaining adherence is easier today with drugs that offer lower pill burdens, less side effects, and far superior drug resistance profiles to previous-generation drugs.
Because of this, a 20-year-old HIV-positive individual on cART in the U.S. and Canada can now expect to live into his or her early 70s, according to data from the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD).
That's an impressive 15 year increase since 2002, edging us ever closer to what are considered normal life expectancy levels in the U.S. (78.9 year).
The Impact of HIV Comorbidities on Longevity
But that, of course, brings us back to all of those "if's."
Ultimately, longevity can really only be determined by the cumulative factors that either increase or decrease life expectancy in person with HIV. These factors range from things we can control (such as treatment adherence or lifestyle choices) to things we can't (such as race or economic status).
Furthermore, the proper treatment and management of HIV is only part of the game. Even for people able to maintain full viral suppression, the risk for the development of non-HIV-related comorbidities, such as cancer or heart disease, is far greater that of the general population, and generally develops 10 years earlier than people who don't have HIV.
So profound are these concerns that, in the developed world, a person living with HIV is far more likely to die prematurely of a comorbid condition than an HIV-related one.
Therefore, proactively addressing both HIV-related and non-HIV-related health issues is vital in ensuring not only long life, but long quality of life in people with HIV.
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