Young HIV patients now living 10 years longer, study finds

Young HIV-positive patients receiving the latest treatments can now expect a "near-normal" life expectancy, according to a study.

Scientists writing in medical journal The Lancet said a 20-year-old who began antiretroviral treatment (ART) from 2010 can expect to live to 78 – similar to the general population.

Had they started treatment in 1996, they would have been expected to die 10 years younger.

Professor Jonathan Sterne, who co-wrote the study, told Sky News that medical advances mean a HIV patient "taking one pill every day could expect near-normal life expectancy".

Prof Sterne also looked ahead to the prospect of eventually eradicating the virus completely, saying: "People who are treated are no longer infectious, or far less likely to transmit their HIV" when they are taking ART.

ART, a cocktail of three or more drugs that block the virus from replicating and help repair the damaged immune system, need to be taken for life.

The drugs were widely introduced 20 years ago and immediately led to dramatic reductions in the number of deaths linked to HIV, which can lead to AIDS if left untreated.

The improvement in life expectancy is believed to be due to less toxic drugs and a greater choice of treatment options.

Prof Sterne said that destigmatising the disease played a large part in people seeking help, as well as increasing the quality of life for those living with HIV.

The ‘Diana moment’ in 1987, when Princess Diana held the hand of an AIDS patient in pictures that were broadcast across the world, was an early first step in removing the stigma associated with HIV.

While the success of the treatments has been impressive, it was noted in the study that the life expectancy of those infected through injecting drugs does not increase as much as in other groups.

When all age groups are taken into account, the life expectancy for patients remains lower than the general population.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said one in three people living with HIV were aged over 50.

He said: "As it stands, the healthcare, social care and welfare systems simply aren’t ready to support the increasing numbers of people growing older with HIV."

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said the improvement in treatment was a "tremendous medical achievement".

The University of Bristol study used data from more than 88,000 HIV patients across Europe and the US who started ART between 1996 and 2010.

(c) Sky News 2017: Young HIV patients now living 10 years longer, study finds