News from aidsmap
Gay and bisexual men urged to get vaccinated against mpox as new cases reported
As clusters of new mpox (formerly monkeypox) are reported in cities including London and Chicago, health officials are urging gay and bisexual men and transgender people to get vaccinated – or to get their second dose if they’ve had only one.
Cellular ageing clock runs fast in untreated HIV, but slows on antiretrovirals
Untreated HIV accelerates the ageing process by up to half a year for every year without antiretroviral treatment, but suppressive antiretroviral treatment stops this accelerated ageing and may even slightly reverse it, according to a Swiss study that tracked markers of ageing that can be read from the bundle of human DNA over 17 years.
People with HIV, especially women, may have a higher prevalence of dementia as they age
The likelihood of developing dementia increases with age in the general US population, as well as in people living with HIV in the US. However, a new study suggests that people with HIV aged over 75 may experience a higher prevalence of dementia compared to the general population – with the largest gap seen in women.
People with HIV have greater risk of ill health than others after hepatitis C cure
People with HIV who were cured of hepatitis C remained at higher risk of a number of serious health outcomes including liver disease and heart disease than people without HIV in the five years after being cured, even after controlling for liver disease stage, the AIDS Clinical Trials Group reports.
UK cohort of elite controllers finds 32 people with undetectable viral loads who have never taken treatment
Since 2017, UK researchers have identified a group of 32 ‘elite controllers’ – rare individuals who are living with HIV and are able to maintain undetectable viral load without taking antiretroviral therapy – and they expect to find more controllers over time. They have also been able to reassure another ten individuals who had ambiguous HIV test results that they don’t have HIV after all.
Half of new HIV cases in African women could have been prevented had more programmes targeted men
Had there been additional efforts to reach and maintain men in treatment services with HIV suppression at levels equal to that of their female counterparts between 2016 and 2018, half of the new infections in adolescent girls and women could have been averted, bringing gender equality in the HIV burden.
People with weakened immune systems still at risk of treatment failure, even with newer ART regimens
Delays between acquiring HIV and initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) often translates to people beginning treatment with weakened immune systems, a scenario that incurs a significantly higher risk that their therapy will fail to suppress the virus. Two new studies suggest that modern integrase inhibitor-based therapies currently recommended as part of first-line ART regimens do not mitigate that risk compared to older formulations.
Real-world data confirm the efficacy of dolutegravir-based dual therapy
Over six years’ worth of real-world data gathered from people with HIV switching to dolutegravir-based two-drug regimens confirm efficacy comparable to three-drug regimens, aligning with previous findings from clinical trials.
Social support for children living with HIV is a key determinant of treatment success, Senegal study shows
A range of individual and collective factors contribute to HIV treatment success or failure among children and adolescents in Senegal, a study has found. Structural factors include the geographic accessibility of health care, universal health coverage and the availability of psychosocial support. Social factors include the child’s age, family relationships and social representations of HIV.
African countries are making the transition from donor-funded HIV programmes to government-led initiatives
"We, as Africans, are the agenda and have the capacity to lead the HIV response," Yvette Raphael from the Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa told the recent INTEREST conference in Maputo, Mozambique. Raphael urged governments and scientists to reduce their reliance on donor funding for HIV initiatives to achieve ownership and sustainable programmes.
Age and CD4 count have the greatest influence on life expectancy in the modern HIV treatment era
A study published in June's The Lancet HIV claims to have produced one of the most detailed analyses of life expectancy among people living with HIV in high-income countries in the modern treatment era. It found that for people on antiretroviral therapy and with high CD4 cell counts, life expectancy was only a few years lower than the general population, regardless of when they had started treatment.
Mpox vaccination closing soon in the UK
Mpox vaccination is ending imminently in the UK. You need to get your first dose by 16 June and second dose by 31 July.
NAM aidsmap's Susan Cole talks to Sexual Health & HIV Consultant, Dr Michael Brady, and Lived Experience Practitioner, José Carlos Mejía Asserias, about the importance of having the vaccinations and where you can get them.
Editors' picks from other sources
On-demand PrEP may be difficult for young MSM | TheBodyPro
Survey data found that young men who have sex with men often cannot predict when they will be having sex, which can complicate conversations with clinicians around optimal oral PrEP use.
Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Act has severe consequences on our public health | The Observer
The executive director of the Uganda Harm Reduction Network describes the challenges of continuing their work after the passage of the act.
Antiretroviral intensification does not improve neurocognitive impairment | POZ
Intensifying antiretroviral therapy by adding dolutegravir and maraviroc did not improve neurocognitive function in people with HIV who were already taking a suppressive regimen, according to study results reported in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
UK: The proposed Illegal Migration Bill leaves asylum seekers with HIV even more vulnerable | National AIDS Trust
The Illegal Migration Bill has now reached the House of Lords. This Bill could lead to catastrophic outcomes for those seeking asylum who are living with HIV and will work in conflict with efforts to engage all people living with HIV in care.
PrEP and women
We have published a new research briefing on PrEP and women. It covers the history of PrEP research and provision for cisgender women and includes information on how many women are using PrEP, the efficacy of oral PrEP in women, topical PrEP and injectable PrEP.