Physical function and ageing
Thanks to improvements in HIV treatment and care, increasing numbers of people with HIV are living into older age. This means that age-related health conditions are now an increasing issue for people with HIV, who may be at a greater risk of having heart disease, lung disease, bone problems and cognitive impairment than people of a similar age who don’t have HIV.
When caring for older people, doctors may assess ‘physical function’ by asking patients to get up from a chair, to stand and remain balanced, and to walk across the room. Older people who have difficulties with these tasks are more likely to have other health problems later. Spotting these problems early on can help doctors suggest help such as physiotherapy or tailored exercise regimes.
A new study suggests that it’s also worth assessing physical function in people living with HIV while they are middle aged.
Researchers in the American city of Baltimore recruited 1627 current and former injecting drug users, a third of whom were living with HIV. Most were in their forties or fifties, and most were living on a low income. So it’s worth noting that the profile of this group is a little different to some other groups of people living with HIV.
During five years of follow-up, 10% of the participants died. The researchers found that both having poor physical function and having HIV increased this risk. People living with HIV who had problems with their physical function (ability to get up out of a chair, walk and balance while standing) did worst of all.
The researchers say that doctors should check for these problems in middle-aged patients living with HIV and be ready to offer interventions to improve physical function.
For more information, you may find the information in our Ageing and HIV topic page helpful.
More support for PrEP
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) involves a person who doesn’t have HIV taking pills regularly to reduce their risk of HIV infection. Several studies show that PrEP works.
Now a coalition of community organisations working on HIV prevention – including NAM – has come together to call for the NHS to speed up its processes and make PrEP available to those at the highest risk of acquiring HIV. The organisations point to the continued high rate of new infections and say there is an urgent need to improve HIV prevention.
A committee of NHS England is meeting today (Wednesday December 10) in order to develop policy on PrEP. But any decision to provide PrEP is unlikely to be implemented before 2017.
The organisations say this is too long to wait. An online version of the statement, launched last Friday, has already been signed by almost 1000 organisations and individuals. Among those supporting earlier access to PrEP are Terrence Higgins Trust, HIV Prevention England, National AIDS Trust, GMFA, Yorkshire MESMAC, Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Positively UK, Positive East, Metro Centre, UK-CAB, HIV i-Base, HIV Justice Network, Naz Project, Act Up, Beyond Positive and the Food Chain.
You can read and sign the statement here.
Editors' picks from other sources
Alex Garner: Generations of HIV
from Huffington Post
Each generation of gay men has the distinct experience of being uniquely impacted by HIV. One of the best-understood and often explored generational experiences of HIV is the early years – a time when the disease violently and unexpectedly emerged in the community. Misunderstandings are common between the generations. The problem is that over the past 30 years, we haven't had great relationships between the generations. Perhaps one of the more poignant losses of the epidemic is the loss of a relationship between the generations.
Is HIV weakening over time?
from TAG
There has been an explosion of media stories positing that the virulence of HIV is decreasing and that the virus is evolving into a "milder form". But the study prompting the coverage relies primarily on laboratory measurements of HIV replication capacity, despite the fact that a prior publication – by several of the same authors – reports that results from this test do not predict the rate of CD4 cell decline over time.
World AIDS Day 2014: HIV-positive activists dump manure outside Ukip office in protest against 'bull****'
from The Independent
HIV-positive activists have dumped half a ton of manure outside a Ukip office on World AIDS Day, saying “what goes around comes around”. Members of the London-based Aids Coalition to Unleash Power (Act Up) said they wanted to show Nigel Farage what they thought of his recent statements suggesting people with AIDS should be barred from entering the UK.
Why HIV prevention meds should be available on the NHS now
from New Statesman
I’ve spent the past three years interviewing and talking to dozens of gay men about their PrEP use or the circumstances in which they would consider taking PrEP. Contrary to some of the media reports, I’ve found that men are thoughtful, considered and resourceful in how they navigate sexual risk. It’s often complex, and PrEP makes it more so.
ARV supply issues cause treatment interruptions in a UK clinic
from HIV i-Base
We have been told of ARV stock-outs that resulted in patients having to interrupt HIV medication due to problems in drug supply. It is difficult to understand why a UK clinic would allow problems to develop to the point that this happened not just once, but several times.
British public still in the dark about HIV 30 years on
from NAT press release
Less than half (45%) of the British public understand how HIV is and isn’t transmitted, new research reveals. NAT (National AIDS Trust) research commissioned from Ipsos MORI also reveals an increase in myths and misunderstanding about HIV.
Tyler Curry – Rejected: The struggles of dating with HIV
from Huffington Post
You are going to be rejected. It is true, and it is going to happen eventually. Someone is going to shut you down before they get to know you because you are living with HIV. It sucks, it isn't fair, and there is nothing that you can do about how they feel. But you can stop equating rejection with loss.