'Primary care needs' of HIV patients

It is crucial that people with HIV are catered for in terms of primary care following treatment.

That is the view of the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), which have released updated, evidence-based guidelines for coping with the virus.

More HIV patients are living longer due to more advanced treatments, but there needs to be additional assistance to protect against the possibility of developing other diseases, researchers claimed.

Dr Judith A Aberg, lead author of the new guidelines, which are published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, said that there should be "routine screening" for other problems for Aids patients.

She commented: "While improvements in antiretroviral therapy have improved the prognosis for many HIV patients, data from recent studies suggest those living with HIV are at higher risk for developing common health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer."

A study from UNAIDS recently indicated that 50 million women in Asia are at risk of contracting HIV.

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