Study suggests people with HIV are living longer

While we are still far away from having a cure for HIV/AIDS, new statistics suggest that the advancements that have been made in researching the disease have made a large impact. A new study conducted in the UK has found that people with HIV are living 15 years longer on average than they were 13 years ago. 

According to researchers from the University of Bristol, these numbers will continue to improve in the next years.

"Life expectancy in the HIV-positive population has significantly improved in the UK between 1996 and 2008 and we should expect further improvements for patients starting antiretroviral therapy now with improved modern drugs and new guidelines recommending earlier treatment," said study authors.

The scientists say that early detection is key to increasing the live expectancy of an HIV patient, in order to avoid starting treatment when their CD4 cell count is too low. A healthy person has a count of between 600 and 1,200. When an individual with HIV presents with a count lower than 200, than treatment will not be as effective.