Experts say HIV is no longer a death sentence, with treatment now allowing those living with the virus to enjoy life expectancies similar to the general population.
“We’re at a really historical moment with this,” said Dr. Ray Martins, chief medical officer at Whitman-Walker Health in Washington.
Since the start of the epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 42.3 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses. But advances in medical science have dramatically changed the outlook for those diagnosed with HIV.
In 1996, a person living with HIV had an average life expectancy of just 39 years. By 2011, this had risen to 72 equivalent to someone without the virus. Today, those with access to effective treatment can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV.
“For most patients, HIV is now a chronic condition, much like diabetes or heart disease,” Dr. Martins explained. “It means you can have a normal lifespan and a life similar to someone who does not have HIV.”
The transformation has largely been driven by antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses the virus to undetectable levels and prevents sexual transmission.
However, access to treatment remains a significant challenge in many parts of the world. Experts stress that this is a political and social issue rather than a medical one. While science has done its part, ensuring global access to life-saving medication is now a matter of policy and will.
