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Results from a recent large study indicate that current or recent protease inhibitor use does not increase the risk of stroke or sudden death in people with HIV. However, the researchers did find a small increased risk over time with longer exposure to protease inhibitors.

Based on their results, the study authors recommended future studies to look for links between individual protease inhibitors and increased risk of death. However, they also noted that deaths are rare, which makes it difficult to find such links even if they exist.

According to…

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Results from a British study of HIV-positive men who have sex with men estimated a life expectancy of 75 years if HIV is diagnosed early, compared with 82 years for individuals without HIV. If HIV is diagnosed late, the researchers estimated life expectancy at 71.5 years.

The study authors noted that the decrease in life expectancy for HIV-positive men is comparable to the effect of cigarette smoking or having a chronic disease like diabetes.

“Men who have sex with men who are recently infected are estimated to have a good…

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People With HIV Are At Increased Risk Of Six Cancers – Results from a recent study indicate that people with HIV are at an increased risk of developing Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma, anal cancer, and liver cancer compared to people without HIV. The researchers also found lung and oral cancers more frequently in people with HIV, but attributed this to lifestyle factors such as higher smoking rates. There was no increased risk of colorectal cancer and a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Results also showed that lower CD4 (white blood cell) counts were associated with an increased cancer risk. Higher viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) was only linked with a higher risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. For more information, please see the press release from Kaiser Permanente or the study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (abstract).

Gilead Receives Approval For Eviplera In Europe – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved Gilead Sciences’ new once-daily combination antiretroviral pill Eviplera (rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir) for the treatment of HIV in previously untreated adults with viral loads (amount of HIV in the blood) of 100,000 copies per milliliter or less. The approval means that Eviplera can be marketed in all 27 countries in the European Union. Eviplera, known as Complera in the U.S., was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August. For more information, please see the Gilead Sciences press release.

AIDS Deaths Continue To Drop Worldwide – An annual report from the United Nations shows that the number of deaths worldwide due to AIDS has continued to drop for the third year in a row. The number of new HIV infections also fell 21 percent in 2010 compared to 1997; 70 percent of new infections were in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the number of people on antiretrovirals increased 20 percent in 2010 in sub-Saharan Africa, bringing the total to 50 percent of clinically eligible people with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. The report also notes that due to longer lifespans and greater survival rates, the number of people living with HIV now stands at an estimated 34 million, the highest ever. For more information, please see the United Nations report (pdf) or the article in the Washington Post.

Study Finds Viread Vaginal Gel Is Safe But Ineffective For HIV Prevention – Results from the Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE) study indicate that a vaginal gel containing 1 percent Viread (tenofovir) is safe but ineffective at preventing HIV infection in women. Based on the results, the National Institutes of Health, which is funding the study, has decided to drop the vaginal gel from the study. The trial, whose purpose is to provide women with methods to prevent HIV infection, will continue to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) pills instead. The VOICE study was first modified in September after results showed that a Viread pill was also ineffective (see related AIDS Beacon news). For more information, please see the National Institutes of Health press release.

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Results from a recent study show that most sepsis infections in HIV-positive patients who are admitted to hospital intensive care units are acquired from hospitals or other health care settings, rather than being HIV-related illnesses. In addition, the risk of death in HIV-positive patients is more closely linked with the severity of the infection than factors relating to HIV.

“With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, [non-HIV-related] infections are becoming a more common reason for people with HIV to be admitted to intensive care units. However, we know little…

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Results from a recent Swiss study indicate that as people with HIV get older, additional diseases such as diabetes, heart attacks, and cancer become increasingly common in this population.

The study authors also said that a comparison of their results with studies of HIV-negative, older adults suggests that people with HIV have around a three- to four-fold higher risk for cancer and heart attacks and a five-fold higher risk for diabetes than people of the same age without HIV.

Based on their results, the authors recommended that older adults with…