Prognosis in HIV

• various studies have reported the dramatic decreases in mortality among individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since the widespread introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in industrialized countries
  • industrialized countries, persons infected sexually with HIV now appear to experience mortality rates similar to those of the general population in the first 5 years following infection, though a mortality excess remains as duration of HIV infection lengthens
  • individuals exposed to HIV through intravenous drug use had a higher excess risk of death than persons infected sexually with HIV

A review has suggested (2) that people living with HIV can currently expect to live a normal life span if able to achieve durable viral suppression on combination antiretroviral therapy

• however this requires lifelong medication and will still suffer from higher rates of cardiovascular, renal, liver and neurologic disease

Reference:

• 1. Bhaskaran K et al. Changes in the risk of death after HIV seroconversion compared with mortality in the general population.JAMA. 2008 Jul 2;300(1):51-9
• 2. Passaes CP, Sáez-Cirión A.HIV cure research: advances and prospects. Virology. 2014 Apr;454-455:340-52