HAART saves 2 million life years

Mar 2 2005

The total impact of HIV treatment in the US has been evaluated for the first time. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, ( Harvard Medical School in Boston), speaking at the 12th Annual Retrovirus Conference, quoted from research which estimated the survival benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and opportunistic infection prophylaxis in the US from 1989 to 2003.

They used published estimates of the number of adults with AIDS who received the recommended standard of care in the year of diagnosis. Progress in HIV care has saved at least 2 million years of life in the United States. The survival benefits of HIV treatment exceeded those obtained with some other commonly used interventions for cancer and coronary artery disease. and suggests routine, voluntary HIV screening for all adults in the United States is imperative.

HAART can lengthen the lifespan of persons with AIDS by nearly 15 years.

In their research the team tried to underestimate the number of eligible patients, the effects of care and the efficacy of treatment, they also understated the rate of linkage to care. They still got 2 million!

This level of survival benefit exceeds that which can currently be achieved for patients with other chronic diseases.

The research also discovered that zidovudine treatment averted about 2860 new cases of HIV infection in infants, which resulted in another 186,790 years of life gained. Had all pregnant HIV-infected women received zidovudine the survival benefit would have increased to 277,150 years. The benefits can only be achieved if those who need therapy receive it.

There are 900,000 persons infected with HIV the US, of these, 280,000 don't know it. Over 4 million life years if these were identified and linked to therapy.