More Proof Earlier Treatment Saves Lives

There is more proof that starting HIV medications before the virus has a chance to damage the immune system significantly lowers the risk of death when compared to patients who start treatment later in the course of the disease. In a retrospective study of 17,000 patients living with HIV, those starting medications before immune system damage decreased their risk of death by as much as 94 percent when compared to those patients who waited longer to start. For years patients and doctors have struggled with the question of when a person should start medications. It appears the pendulum has now shifted, suggesting sooner is better. Meds are easier and safer to take says Richard Moore, an author of the study and professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. “The drugs are now safer and the evidence mounting from our data and other data suggests it makes sense to start therapy earlier.” While the standard of care says to start meds after the CD4 count drops below 350 many feel that threshold may rise to 500 or above. But before that happens more studies must be done; studies to actually compare two groups; those starting earlier and those later.

Related Information

• "When should I start my medications?"

• Medication Fact Sheets

• What is a CD4 Count?