[est31]

As long as they take their daily ART pills, they are safe from AIDS in specific, which is basically a death sentence. But things are not black and white. Someone who has ever been HIV positive counts as immuno compromised for their entire life. Studies have shown that there is basically no shortening of life expectancy, if you start ART early enough in the process.

> if the person with HIV started ART with a CD4 count above 500, they would be expected to live to the age of 87 – a little longer than those without HIV.

https://www.aidsmap.com/news/mar-2020/yes-same-life-expectan...

[sterlind]

I've heard HIV patients describe ART as "aging" their organs. obviously preferable to dying horribly from AIDS, but still gnarly to contend with.

it's really interesting to me that their health becomes poorer earlier, but that it doesn't affect mortality.

[touisteur]

This might maybe be because a lot of effort is now poured on mid to end of life care, with the improving life expectancy? So the science behind pushing along a decaying body gets better?

[sterlind]

I sure hope so! I don't have HIV but I do have a genetic disorder that's wrecking my body. I'm determined to live as long as possible.

[touisteur]

My lovely wife is a live-liver-transplant kid and I too hope she outlives us all. Alas the 'organ preserving' drugs (the ones you take to help kidneys handle immunosuppressants) have difficult side effects. I'm not talking incomfort or pain, but pregnancy-terminating. Not the best way to end your first pregnancy...

And as it's 'just' prevention, it's hard to know whether it will reliably improve this individual outcome...