July 28, 2008

Life Expectancy With HIV Increases Dramatically

A 20-year-old HIV-positive person starting antiretroviral (ARV) therapy today can expect to live, on average, to the age of 69, according to new calculations published July 26 in The Lancet. The study authors say this is a life expectancy increase of 37 percent over projections for 20-year-olds starting ARVs during the early years of combination treatment. 
 
HIV-positive people have frequently asked their health care providers how long they will live with the virus, especially with so many effective ARV options to choose from. Few studies have attempted to answer this question-until now.

To determine life expectancy among HIV-positive patients, an international roster of researchers joined forces and reviewed the medical records of more than 43,000 people living with the virus in the United States, Canada and several European countries. The study participants were split into three groups: 18,587 people who started ARV treatment between 1996 and 1999, 13,914 who started treatment between 2000 and 2002, and 10,854 people who started treatment between 2003 and 2005.

The researchers predicted that a 20-year-old person starting ARV treatment between 1996 and 1999, the early years of combination ARV therapy, could be expected to live an additional 36 years, to the age of 56. This increased significantly, however, as time passed. A 20-year-old who started treatment between 2003 and 2005 was expected to live an additional 49 years, to the age of 69.

The average life expectancy for a 20-year-old who remains HIV negative, at least in industrialized nations, is an additional 60 years—with death occurring, on average, at the age of 80.

HIV-positive people who didn't start ARV treatment until their CD4s dropped to 100 were expected to live 10 fewer years than people who started therapy when their CD4s were above 200. The authors also determined that HIV-positive people with a history of injection drug use were expected to live 10 fewer years than those who never used injection drugs.

In a letter in The Lancet commenting on the study, David Cooper, MD, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, questions whether starting ARV treatment even earlier, at a CD4 count above 500 for instance, may bring life expectancy even closer to normal. Dr. Cooper hopes that the international Strategic Timing of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (START) clinical trial, which is investigating earlier initiation of ARV treatment, will provide the answer.

Results from a larger European study, reported at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in February 2010, also suggest 'near normal' survival among people living with HIV who keep their CD4 counts above 500 cells for at least three years.

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Previous Comments:

Vaughn Ripley, Brunswick, MD, 2012-01-22 18:14:14
This is pretty comforting news, considering that I was told I had fewer than 2 years to live back in 1987. Read how I've done it at my blog hivlongevity.com

Ellen, Johannesburg, 2012-01-22 04:51:48
With acute HIV symptoms i disclosed that I was HIV positive, Evry day i search the life expectancy of HIV POSITIVE people, I get that i wuld live til 69, im currently 20. People we are not deing of a virus, we are healthy individuals fighting of a virus.

JIMMY, LAGOS,NIGERIA, 2011-11-22 18:03:48
Thanks for the piece of information,i just want to ask if its possible for an STD patient to be infected with HIV by misuse of antibiotics? I treated STD like a month ago and now am having some symptoms i just do not understand. Pls,you can reply via my email address. Thanks once again JIMMY

Mhbrn, , 2011-11-17 00:44:43
Tonight I have just confirmed what I have long suspected, which is that my father is HIV positive. Being that he is my role model, best friend and favorite person I just can't imagine losing him prematurely. I have been reading for hours now learning as much as I could and it simply brings tears to my eyes knowing that HIV is not likely going to cut his life short. He has been living with it for 10 years, and responsibly. Thanks for all of the great posts here. Encouraging.

J Hope, Nairobi, 2011-09-23 05:02:55
Great, i couldnot think i will be here now for some couple of days i have realized am living with hiv, for less than 5 months now, i know there is no other way forward but to go forward with life, am sure i will be able to adhere to med which is available here without payment, i feeel that am bornagain life is good, life is sweet, every minute or hour must be spent to live it in the fulllest and thats is what am doing now.Hiv is not end of life but a beginning of it in wholesome way. Yes am Poz

Anonymous, , 2011-06-07 14:38:04
This info helped me coz i'm 22 years and hiv positive so i got a clear understanding

Arash, , 2011-02-13 17:20:38
Bruce, Dallas,TX, I was diagnosed in mid 1980's when I was 20 something & no meds then. i was told I had 3-5 years to live. What a wake-up call..I am one of the fortunate few that made it thru until protease inhibitors saved my life & have extended my Life Expectancy. I am now 54, undetectable, 550 + Tcells & sense that I will live a normal life. HOWEVER, It has been a FULL - TIME JOB to take meds, rest, good nutritrion, low stress, All the small things add up to extend life GOD IS GREAT...

Jai, Los Angeles, 2011-01-29 20:06:39
Idk if I'm pos I had risky sex a few times not sure of my partners status! Really scared to get tested do t think I could handle it! After readi g a few post on here it has gave me hope and after lots research I see that HIV is not a death sentence now. I hope these threads continue cause it is a help to many ppl

Bruce, Dallas,TX, 2010-09-26 01:57:29
I was diagnosed in mid 1980's when I was 20 something & no meds then. i was told I had 3-5 years to live. What a wake-up call..I am one of the fortunate few that made it thru until protease inhibitors saved my life & have extended my Life Expectancy. I am now 54, undetectable, 550 + Tcells & sense that I will live a normal life. HOWEVER, It has been a FULL - TIME JOB to take meds, rest, good nutritrion, low stress, All the small things add up to extend life expectancy. Keep at it !!

Leo, Lagos,Nigeria, 2010-09-04 21:00:05
I'm 21years old & I only found out I was positive a few days ago.Thankfully,i'm told i'll be given the meds free...u almost dont see anything free in most African countries.Though i blame my careless stupid self but i realise there's no way to go but forward&we can only pray that these some scholars brilliant mind will soon cook up the formular to finally end this thing.And my mom's one of the several myopic people who believe anyone with hiv is a goner...i just hope i dont get sick cos i'll lose everything. i'll take my cd and vl counts asap

Opso, , 2010-08-31 03:50:32
You who are worried if you can afford hiv-medication in the future, you should move to Finland. Here the government pays for all the meds. I can't believe you are let to die if you can't get an insurance. That's just not right.

Fredd, Colombia, 2010-08-18 22:17:07
I am very worried because having to start a medication I cannot pay for in the future. Is it meaning I cannot travel to another countries for better jobs to be able to pay my medicines. I have a study loan and I have to pay it, additionally I have to pay my meds, so my life style will be very poor, this means bad quality food and house... So...

Pat Johnson, Austin, 2010-08-16 02:17:37
I been poz for 28 years now, didn't start any meds until 2001 when CD4 count was zero. I am 54 years old, have excellent healthcare and medicare, each day is a blessing and I plan to be here another 50 years if my liver can hold up.

Jeremy Verrette, denham springs, 2010-08-11 15:15:32
Hiv meds are really expensive!! I make pretty good money but even so who can afford $50 a pill? I work contract work so it is hard to maintain insurance dealing with cobra between jobs. Is there any insurance carriers out there that I can turn too or maybe apply for assisstance. I find it very unfair that many people get the meds for free who don't have jobs and I am penalized for being a productive citizen. I am obviously not looking for a free ride but $1400 a month is more than a house note.

brandon, Shakopee mn, 2010-08-02 18:44:59
27 have been poz since late 07 no ARV's cd4's in the lower 700's and vl is 150, let's just hope making health wise decisions and vitamins will keep me off meds for a couple more years.