Effectiveness of HIV Anti-retroviral Agents on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Aims: The scale up of HAART globally has shifted the mortality time table, decreased viral transmission and improved health related quality of life for patients while emphasizing the importance of adherence to therapy for improved outcomes.

Study Design: Review Article.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine SABA University School of Medicine.

Methodology: Using Pubmed and Science Direct, research was executed from January 2015 to March 2015. Articles used were limited to a study completion date of less than five years. The type of studies used were case control, cohort, cross sectional, follow up, and qualitative studies on human subjects. All studies originated within the last 20 years but to keep the issue current and relevant, preference was given to studies published within the last five years.

Results: The scale up of HAART correlated with a decrease in mortality rates and a lengthening of the death time table. Health Related Quality of Life significantly improved with therapy. Both vertical and horizontal transmission rates showed improvements with the increase of available therapy. Stigma is still a limiting factor to adherence, limiting the gains of HAART.

Conclusion: HAART has had an overall positive effect in improving the quality of life of patients suffering from the HIV epidemic while working to combat new infections. Causation can be inferred for some aspects as there is adequate literature while certain topics such as stigma need more research.

Ultramini Abstract: HAART has overall improved quality of life for patients while decreasing the mortality time table. It has shifted the perception of HIV from a death sentence to a treatable and preventable diagnosis. Vertical and horizontal transmission have seen great improvements. However, much work has to be done to combat stigma, increase adherence, and decrease attrition to increase the gains of HAART and its effects on the HIV epidemic.