In the past, HIV treatment was primarily aimed at suppressing the virus. However, with advances in medical care, the focus has long shifted from survival to healthy living and aging with HIV.
Improving everyone's quality of life has now become particularly important. In order to live long, fulfilling and healthy lives, it is not only especially important for people with HIV to know their own individual needs. It is therefore advisable for them to ask themselves whether certain aspects of life with HIV are perceived as a challenge or how satisfied they are with current treatment.
What challenges can be associated with HIV treatment?
There are now large-scale studies that shed light on the experiences and desires of people living with HIV. In the Positive Perspectives 2 study, for example, 2,389 people living with HIV worldwide were surveyed.
Among other things, we were asked about the challenges that people living with HIV face in their daily lives. For example, of 120 respondents in Germany, the majority feel they remember being infected with HIV every day by taking medication, and almost half of them hide their medication1 Even because they are afraid of being accidentally exposed to HIV.
A large proportion of those surveyed face special challenges when it comes to HIV treatment1
Know your personal needs
In addition to their unique personality, each person also has very individual needs when it comes to shaping their own life. It's important for people living with HIV, especially regarding HIV treatment, to know this: The more aware you are of your own needs, the clearer you will be about whether or not your current HIV treatment meets their needs.
Just like many other things in life, needs can change over time. This does not usually happen overnight, but gradually and therefore often goes unnoticed – which is what makes regular screening so important.
What do innovations in HIV treatment offer?
The majority of people living with HIV believe they can benefit from innovations in treatment.2 For example, if taking pills every day reminds you of being infected with HIV and you find that stressful, you don't have to just accept that. Results of the Positive Horizons 2 study, for example, show that nearly half of those surveyed are open to HIV treatment that does not have to be taken daily.2
Nearly two-thirds of HIV-positive people surveyed even said they would be willing to take an HIV treatment with fewer active ingredients but the same effectiveness.2
Most people believe they can benefit from innovations in HIV treatment2
Make HIV a smaller part of life
In order to maintain a high quality of life, it is important for people living with HIV to know their own needs and, above all, to express them to their doctors. If current HIV treatment does not meet these needs, an open conversation can be very helpful.
Thanks to medical advances, there is a suitable treatment for a variety of personal desires and expectations. If you find out about these things on your own with your doctor, HIV may become a smaller part of your life.
You can find more information and personal stories about living with HIV at www.livlife.de.
Sponsored by Vieve Healthcare
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1 Weger A et al., German-Austrian AIDS Conference 2021. Poster No. 46763.
2 Weger A et al., 15th Congress of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine 2021. Poster P-037.
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