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Starting antiretroviral therapy
(ART) earlier rather than later is cost-effective and helps prevent
AIDS-related illnesses, according to two studies presented at the 19th
International AIDS Conference in Washington. The studies add to a body of
evidence that already suggests early treatment initiation improves patient
health outcomes and can help prevent onward transmission.
The first study followed HIV
patients in South Africa and India over a period of five years or longer. One
group began treatment early, when the immune system CD4 cell counts were
350-550. The other group began treatment later, once the CD4 count dipped below
250.
Over the long term, starting
treatment earlier was cost-effective in both countries, researchers found. That
meant the cost to save one life was less than one time the gross domestic
product per capita.
“Early ART is a triple winner,” said
study leader Rochelle Walensky of the Harvard Center for AIDS Research. “HIV-infected
patients do better, their partners are protected and it is very
cost-effective.”
The second study found that patients
treated earlier also had fewer cases of TB and other AIDS-related illnesses,
such as certain bacterial infections and herpes. Those conditions that did turn
up were not as quick to develop as in the delayed-treatment group.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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