Question

Does being diagnosed in your 30s mean you will die in your 50s?

29 November 2020. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term, Southern Africa.

Hello, I just read some where that if u diagnosed at your 30s you die when u 55 is it true?

I thought that taking ART gives you a long healthy life?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi

Thanks for your question.

Without more detail this idea you read in the article is definitely wrong.

HIV treatment (ART) can work for much longer than this. Many people who are now in their 50s, 60s 70s and 80s who have been living with HIV for more than 30 years.

The earlier someone is diagnosed, the easier HIV is to treat. But some people who are diagnosed late with very low CD4 counts still get excellent responses to treatment.

So long as you are good taking your meds and your viral load stays undetectable, there is no reason it will ever fail. Then, as we live for longer, the most important thing becomes our general health – and other health conditions that affect the general population too.

If you could please send me the link to the article, I can answer this in more detail.