Numerous studies have found that the use of potent combination anti-HIV therapy (ART) strengthens the immune system and overall health. ART does this by gradually reducing the amount of HIV produced to very low levels-commonly called “undetectable.” This then allows the immune system to partially repair itself.
The benefit of ART is so profound that researchers expect that many young adults who are diagnosed today and who initiate ART shortly thereafter and who maintain regular doctor and laboratory visits and who do not have addiction-related issues should have near-normal life expectancy. This is a tremendous change from the time before ART was available, when the life expectancy of an HIV-positive person was shortened by AIDS-related complications.
Given the enormous benefit of ART, researchers at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver reviewed medical records from the HIV ward of St. Paul’s Hospital to assess if changes were occurring in the types of infections that patients had. The researchers focused on the period between 2005 and 2014. During that time about 1,600 HIV-positive people were admitted to the HIV ward, in some cases, twice. Researchers found that the proportion of people with AIDS-related infections and complications decreased significantly. However, there was an increase in HIV-positive people seeking care for non-AIDS-related but serious infections of the lungs, skin and soft tissue, as well as bones and joints. The research team suggested several policy interventions to improve the overall health of people in the community and reduce their risk for serious infections and hospitalization.