New HIV drugs raise life expectancy to 'near normal'

Life expectancy for people with HIV is now nearly normal if they take the latest medication, say scientists.

A study in The Lancet found 20-year-olds who began antiretroviral therapy in 2010 will live ten years longer than those who began using it in 1996.

Researchers at the University of Bristol examined the cases of 88,500 people from Europe and North America and based their life-expectancy predictions on death rates during the three years of follow-up after drug treatment was started,

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They said the success of the latest drug treatments was a result of them having fewer side effects and being more efficient at preventing the virus from replicating in the body, reports the BBC.

However, charities warned that a large number of people were still unaware they have the virus. Doctors also said that starting treatment early was essential to achieve a long and healthy life.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at HIV and Aids charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, said longer life expectancy also meant those aged over 50 now represent one in three of all those living with the virus.

But he identified a fresh issue created by this development. "As it stands, the healthcare, social care and welfare systems simply aren't ready to support the increasing numbers of people growing older with HIV," he said.

"A new model of care" and "a major shift in awareness and training" was needed "so that we're ready to help older people live well in later life", he added.