Despite advances in HIV care and treatment, a study has found a large proportion of people with HIV still experience symptoms that are underestimated or unacknowledged by their HIV doctors. Dr José Galindo Puerto of the Spanish AIDS Interdisciplinary Society (SEISIDA) and colleagues found discrepancies between the frequency and burdens of HIV and HIV treatment symptoms reported by Spaniards living with HIV and the HIV specialists caring for them. Their results highlight a need for better communication between clinicians and patients.

How young people feel about long-acting injectable treatment remains largely unexplored. The More Options for Children and Adolescents (MOCHA) study provides some insight into the experiences of young people aged 12-18 who have switched to long-acting cabotegravir / rilpivirine based treatment. It is the first to examine use of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals in virally suppressed adolescents.

While there have been reductions in the rates of most major causes of death among people with HIV in North America and Europe since 1996, people who inject drugs – particularly women – remain vulnerable to early death. Background Before 1996 – when combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) became the mainstay of HIV treatment – death from AIDS was a near inevitability, even in high-income countries. Due to ART’s high effectiveness at suppressing HIV, AIDS-related deaths have declined steeply, particularly in Europe and North America. [GLOSSARY]

A recent study identifies the factors which contribute to the effective delivery of youth-friendly services, so as to achieve better outcomes for adolescents. Globally, around five million adolescents (aged 15-24) are living with HIV. There is consensus that youth-friendly approaches to delivering care do support better health outcomes. However, there are gaps in knowledge about how they work in practice. This analysis explored whether specific mechanisms could influence outcomes.

A symposium at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) earlier this month included presentations advocating changes in practice on what might be called opposite ends of the menu of PrEP options now on offer.

Weight gain on antiretroviral treatment is not solely a ‘return to health’ effect, research presented earlier this month at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) suggests.

People with HIV aged 65 and older were more likely to be prescribed opioids and be diagnosed with opioid use disorder than HIV-negative older adults in the US, according to data presented by Dr Stephanie Shiau to the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) in Denver recently.

How young people feel about long-acting injectable treatment remains largely unexplored. The More Options for Children and Adolescents (MOCHA) study provides some insight into the experiences of young people aged 12-18 who have switched to long-acting cabotegravir / rilpivirine based treatment. It is the first to examine use of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals in virally suppressed adolescents.

Almost two-thirds of new cases of HIV now occur outside countries with high HIV prevalence in southern and eastern Africa, according to an analysis of UNAIDS country-level data presented earlier this month at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) in Denver.

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024), took place earlier this month with research from around the world. Here is a roundup of research focused on the US.

While 1 in 3 people who inject drugs were aware of PrEP in 2022, only 1 in 100 actually took it. Despite changes in PrEP awareness between 2018 and 2022, increases in uptake for this vulnerable group were small, according to data presented to the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) earlier this month in Denver by Dr Patrick Eustaquio.

Long-acting injectable HIV treatment and PrEP (medication to prevent HIV) continue to be areas of interest and progress in the HIV field. Some of the latest research on injectable treatment and PrEP was presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) earlier this month and we have put together some highlights below.

Despite less injecting drug use, increased use of harm reduction services, and significant progress in reducing HIV infections, there has been a resurgence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in recent years in Baltimore, especially among people under the age of 40. This research, tracking changes over the past three decades, was presented by Eshan Patel to the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) in Denver.

ONUSIDA celebra la adopción hoy de una resolución clave en el 67º periodo de sesiones de la Comisión de Estupefacientes de las Naciones Unidas (CND), en la que se reconoce por primera vez la reducción del daño como parte importante de una respuesta eficaz de salud pública. La resolución anima a los Estados miembros a desarrollar y aplicar medidas de reducción de daños para minimizar las consecuencias adversas para la salud pública y la sociedad del uso no médico de drogas ilícitas. ONUSIDA felicita a la CND y a su Presidente por este hito histórico.

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024) was held in Denver, US, in March. Here is a roundup of some of the HIV treatment and prevention research focused on women that was presented at the conference.

One of the most important HIV conferences of the year, the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024), took place earlier this month. Here are some highlights from research on PrEP (regular medication to prevent HIV) presented at CROI.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) using cabotegravir and rilpivirine injections monthly or every other month can be an effective HIV treatment option for people who have difficulty maintaining viral suppression on daily pills due to suboptimal adherence, according to studies presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024).

Co-morbidities – other health issues affecting people with HIV – continue to be an important focus of research in the HIV field. Here are some of the top stories on co-morbidities research presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2024).

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could in theory stop the majority of HIV transmissions that still happen, and in some places, including England, is doing so. Yet worldwide, it is still only being used only by a minority of those who could benefit from it.

Men in sub-Saharan Africa are much more likely to have advanced HIV disease –including large numbers who have a low CD4 count despite taking treatment and being virally suppressed. It remains crucial to monitor CD4 count, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) study of 12 countries presented to the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections by Dr Dominik Stelzle in Denver earlier this month.