Factsheets

  • HIV and the ageing process

    • It’s sometimes said that HIV speeds up the ageing process, but this is not certain.
    • People with HIV are at greater risk of some health conditions, but not necessarily at younger ages.
    • There’s a lot that you can do to reduce your risk of these conditions and diseases occurring.

  • Life expectancy for people living with HIV

    • With the right treatment and care, people with HIV can live a normal lifespan.
    • People who have a good response to HIV treatment have excellent long-term prospects.
    • You can increase your life expectancy by not smoking and having a healthy lifestyle.

  • Side-effects

    • Many side-effects are the result of your body getting used to a new drug.
    • Other medicines can be taken to help control side-effects.
    • Possible side-effects should be taken into account when choosing your treatment combination.

  • Multiple medications and drug interactions

    • The more drugs you take, the greater the risk of drug interactions and side-effects.
    • It’s important to tell your doctors and pharmacists about all the other medicines you take.
    • An annual medication review is an opportunity to check that your medicines are right for you.

  • Dealing with multiple healthcare providers

    • If you have several health conditions, you may find that health services are not as joined up as you’d like.
    • There’s a lot you can do yourself to make things work more smoothly and to prevent problems from occurring.
    • You are entitled to ask for one healthcare professional to co-ordinate your care across different services.

  • Menopause and HIV

    • The menopause is a natural part of each woman’s ageing process.
    • Knowing what symptoms to expect during the menopause can help you deal with the experience.
    • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help if symptoms interfere with your daily life.

  • Bone problems and HIV

    • When your bones are thinner, a trip or fall can result in a broken bone.
    • Exercise and other lifestyle changes are good for your bones.
    • People aged 50+ and women who have had the menopause should have their bone health checked regularly.

  • Cognitive impairment and HIV

    • Problems with thinking and memory can have a wide range of causes.
    • A healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of cognitive impairment in later life.
    • Cognitive impairment caused by HIV is usually mild in people taking HIV treatment.

  • Chronic kidney disease and HIV

    • HIV may contribute to kidney disease but the two most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure.
    • Lifestyle changes can help keep kidney disease under control.
    • Your HIV clinic will monitor your kidney function regularly.

  • Type 2 diabetes and HIV

    • Changes to your lifestyle can reduce your risk of diabetes.
    • Diabetes requires frequent monitoring and can have serious consequences if left untreated.
    • Rates of diabetes are higher in people living with HIV than in the general population.

  • Stroke and HIV

    • A stroke is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment.
    • High blood pressure and raised cholesterol are risk factors for stroke.
    • A healthy diet, regular exercise, stopping smoking, and other lifestyle changes lower your risk of stroke.

  • Cancer and HIV

    • Rates of some, but not all, cancers are higher in people living with HIV than other people.
    • For many cancers, treatment works just as well for people living with HIV who are taking effective HIV treatment as HIV-negative people.
    • Stopping smoking and other lifestyle changes lower your risk of developing cancer.

  • Anal cancer and HIV

    • Rates of anal cancer are higher in people with HIV than other people.
    • Most people who have abnormal cell changes in their anus do not go on to have anal cancer.
    • Guidelines don’t recommend screening for anal cancer in people who don’t have symptoms.
    • Younger people with HIV should get the HPV vaccine to prevent anal and other cancers.

  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and HIV

    • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer affecting the immune system.
    • People with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV, are at increased risk of developing NHL.
    • Most people with NHL and HIV are treated with chemotherapy, a monoclonal antibody, and HIV treatment.

  • Kaposi’s sarcoma and HIV

    • Kaposi’s sarcoma remains one of the most common cancers in people living with HIV.
    • HIV treatment protects against Kaposi’s sarcoma and slows down disease progression.
    • People with advanced Kaposi’s sarcoma also need chemotherapy.

  • The heart

    • Unhealthy lifestyles and untreated HIV contribute to heart attacks, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure.
    • Symptoms can include tiredness, breathlessness, an irregular heartbeat and chest pains.
    • If anti-HIV drugs are contributing to heart problems, it may be possible to switch to other drugs.

  • Cholesterol

    • Excess cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease and stroke.
    • Diet, exercise and smoking all have an impact on cholesterol levels.
    • Some anti-HIV drugs may raise cholesterol levels.

  • High blood pressure

    • You should have your blood pressure monitored regularly as part of your HIV care.
    • HIV drugs can interact with other medicines to affect blood pressure.
    • Blood pressure can be affected by diet, smoking and lack of exercise.

  • Lung cancer and HIV

    • Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer.
    • People living with HIV have a higher risk of lung cancer than the general population.
    • Many people do not have symptoms at early stages.

  • Hepatitis B and HIV

    • Hepatitis B is a blood-borne infection that is transmitted in some of the same ways as HIV.
    • Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine.
    • Over time untreated hepatitis B can cause serious liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

  • Hepatitis C and HIV

    • Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection that is transmitted in some of the same ways as HIV.
    • Over time untreated hepatitis C can cause serious liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
    • Modern hepatitis C treatment has few side-effects and can cure almost everyone.

  • Fatty liver disease and HIV

    • Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in liver cells.
    • A healthy diet and exercise can reduce your risk of fatty liver disease.
    • There are currently no good treatments for fatty liver disease.
    • Over time fatty liver disease can lead to serious complications including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

  • Pain

    • Pain can cause emotional and mental health problems.
    • Medication can be used in both the short and long term to control pain.
    • Treating underlying medical problems may help to address chronic pain.

  • Tiredness and fatigue

    • Illnesses and drug side-effects can contribute to fatigue.
    • People often report an increase in their energy levels after starting HIV treatment.
    • A healthy balanced diet may help to reduce fatigue.
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.