The effect of antiretroviral therapy on HIV has been confirmed again, the gap between life expectancy of patients and the general population continues to narrow

　　The effect of antiretroviral therapy on HIV has been confirmed again. The

　　Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, May 6th (Reporter Zhang Mengran) As AIDS testing and treatment services become more and more popular worldwide, people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Latin America and the Caribbean , The life expectancy has been significantly extended.

This study, published recently in the online edition of the British "Lancet AIDS" magazine, is by far the largest of its kind. It shows that the life expectancy of HIV patients receiving ART in the above-mentioned areas is now close to that of the general population. Life expectancy.

　　The World Health Organization (WHO) put forward a "Treat All" policy recommendation in 2016, that is, to treat all HIV-infected people through the use of antiretroviral drugs, in order to achieve the global goal of eradicating AIDS by 2030.

The Lancet article shows that by the end of 2020, 96% of low-income and middle-income countries have adopted this policy recommendation, compared to only 40% in 2016.

However, there are few data on the life expectancy of HIV-infected people in low- and middle-income countries, and there has never been a large-scale survey.

　　In the latest study, researchers analyzed 30,000 HIV-infected people in Latin America and the Caribbean receiving antiretroviral therapy.

They found that the life expectancy of these AIDS patients has increased in the past 20 years and is within 10 years of the local general population.

　　The analysis also shows that over time, life expectancy in all age groups has increased.

By comparing the two time periods from 2003 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2017, the team found that the overall life expectancy of HIV-infected people in Haiti has increased significantly to 61.2 years, while those in other countries have increased to 69.5 years.

The life expectancy of the general population is 69.9 years in Haiti and 78.0 years in other regions.

　　Jessica L. Castillo Hu, a researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United States, said that they have observed a significant increase in life expectancy among participants.

It is very encouraging that the WHO’s “full-staff treatment” recommendation has had a good impact in low- and middle-income countries and is consistent with reports from high-income countries. If you continue to work hard, it is not difficult to see HIV-infected people in low- and middle-income countries. The life expectancy gap with the general population will be further narrowed.

　　However, in related comments, scientists reminded that it should be noted that during the new crown pandemic, past challenges still exist, and the increase in life expectancy of HIV-infected people may also be reduced due to the new crown epidemic.

Editor-in-chief

　　Antiretroviral therapy was introduced in Latin America in the 1990s, and by the 21st century, this treatment has become popular in the region.

We previously knew that in Europe, Canada, and the United States, large studies have shown that antiretroviral therapy can significantly extend the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients.

However, Latin America and the Caribbean has its unique characteristics of vastness and diversity. The “killer” of HIV is affecting all kinds of people here, and the relatively few resources of clinical research and investigation also make people feel more concerned about this. The treatment status in one area is vague.

Now, a new report uses very clear data to tell people the exact effect of this treatment in the local area, which is gratification and hope.