In the s—s, antiretroviral therapy began as monotherapy, then it became dual therapy. Now, there is combination antiretroviral therapy, which includes using three or more drugs.
There are several classes of antiretroviral drugs that attack HIV in different ways. Combinations of drugs are the first-line treatment. People typically start antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible after a diagnosis of HIV. A study in the journal AIDS found that the additional life expectancy for people with HIV at age 20 during the early monotherapy era was However, that number rose to Researchers also concluded that people with HIV with higher education had a similar life expectancy to the general population.
Researchers continue to work on a cure for HIV. In the meantime, combination antiretroviral therapy preserves the health of a person with HIV. It does this by suppressing the virus in the blood to undetectable levels. It is important for the person to follow their therapy plan precisely. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC now report that when a person taking antiretroviral therapy has a negative viral load in their blood, the risk of transmitting the virus to a person without HIV is essentially zero.
Because people with HIV are living much longer, they are starting to face the same health issues as other older adults. Even with the advances in antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV may experience long-term side effects of either the therapy or HIV itself. HIV also appears to increase chronic inflammation in the body, putting a person at risk of certain health conditions. However, more research is necessary to better understand this. With the right treatment and care, most people living with HIV in the UK will have a more or less normal lifespan.
A test that measures the number of CD4 cells in the blood, thus reflecting the state of the immune system. When the CD4 count of an adult falls below , there is a high risk of opportunistic infections and serious illnesses. An undetectable viral load is the first goal of antiretroviral therapy. Measurement of the amount of virus in a blood sample, reported as number of HIV RNA copies per milliliter of blood plasma. Viral load is an important indicator of HIV progression and of how well treatment is working.
When viral load is detectable, this indicates that HIV is replicating in the body. If the person is taking HIV treatment but their viral load is detectable, the treatment is not working properly.
There may still be a risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners. In fact, the most important causes of illness and death in people living with HIV are now quite similar to those in the general population.
They include heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, depression and cancers. A wide range of factors affect your risk of developing these conditions. Other risk factors are within your power to change. You can increase your life expectancy by not smoking, being physically active, having a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excess alcohol or drug use, and remaining socially connected.
Primary tabs View active tab Preview. Rosalie Hayes. November Key points With the right treatment and care, people with HIV can live a normal lifespan. People who have a good response to HIV treatment have excellent long-term prospects. You can increase your life expectancy by not smoking and having a healthy lifestyle. For a person with HIV, the outlook largely depends on whether they have consistent access to treatment and are taking it as prescribed.
If a person with HIV receives consistent antiretroviral therapy before the infection advances, they can live a long, healthy life, with a life expectancy comparable to that of someone without HIV. Without treatment, a person may develop stage 3 HIV 2—15 years after contracting the infection. The life expectancy after a stage 3 HIV diagnosis is 3 years. However, with effective medication, many people never develop stage 3 HIV, and the incidence of opportunistic infections is much lower than it was in the past.
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