Question
I am doing well on ARVs.Can I look forward to retirement?
30 May 2012. Related: All topics, Life expectancy.
This site is very helpful. Thank you for answering so many questions that are beneficial for so many people to know the answers to.
I have had very successful results with Atripla. Positive for 5 months now, my CD4 count is 600 and my viral load is below 20 copies.
I am 35, with no other health problems. What is the current research on life expectancy?
Can I potentially look forward to retirement one day?
Any insight whether a cure will be found, or is all the talk of the profits the pharmecutical companies are making going to be more important than people’s health?
Answer
Thank you for your your kind words.
It is great that you are doing so well with your treatment and that you have no other health problems.
Your first question was regarding the current research on life expectancy. Recent data has shown that the life expectancy of someone aged 20 years starting ARVs, can expect to live for another 45 years. Therefore, with access to and good use of treatment, care and support, people living with HIV can expect to have similar life expectancy to that of the general population. In answer to your question therefore, you can potentially look forward to retirement one day.
As regarding a cure, I’m sure it will come.Science has a way of solving most problems. If not now, then it will happen in the future. And it may come from a completely different area of medical research.
There are exciting new developments and a significant shift in the research for a cure. It is a very difficult challenge for HIV though, because the virus becomes part of the genetic material of immune cells. Some of these cells, once infected, rest or sleep for many years. Currently, HIV drugs only work in cells that are active or awake, but research is looking at ways of targeting those sleeping cells.
In the absence of a cure, we should focus on the fact that we have very effective treatment that will keep us alive for many years.
Hi again Yak,
Have you had your CD4 count and viral load tested since you started treatment? Do you know what these results are?
Life expectancy on treatment is very good- so long as you have a good response to treatment your life expectancy will be very similar to somebody who does not have HIV.
I’m sorry to hear about the death of your friend. Without knowing anything about his situation I can’t comment on what caused this- it could be that this was related to a very low CD4 count and HIV related illnesses or on the other hand that it was not related to HIV.
I started treatment at 31 years old , what is my life expectancy ? (2) I know some one who tested positive 2009 but died this 2013. What could cause his death even while on treatment ?