Life Expectancy When You Have HIV

Not so long ago, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) was thought to mean a certain, early death. In fact, in the 1980s and 1990s, most people with HIV lived for only 1 to 2 years after diagnosis.^1,2

People with HIV began living longer and healthier lives in the early 2000s as new and better treatments were discovered. New medicines helped many people avoid having the virus progress to its most advanced stage, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).^1,2

Today, HIV is considered a long-term (chronic) condition, as long as a person is diagnosed early and is able to maintain consistent treatment.²

U=U is key to longevity

Today, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and a healthy lifestyle are the mainstays of HIV treatment. But consistency is key.³

With proper treatment, the level of HIV in your blood (also called viral load) becomes undetectable and your CD4 count remains high. Your CD4 count tells your doctor how strong your immune system is. The higher the count, the better your body is able to fight infections.^3,4

Having an undetectable viral load is so important that the United States government started a campaign called U=U. This stands for undetectable equals untransmittable. People with an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV to others. And they stay healthier overall.³

Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS. But with proper care, people with HIV can live as long or nearly as long as people without HIV. Studies show that people who were diagnosed after 2015 are likely to live just a few years less than people without HIV.^2,3

Groups with lower life spans

Despite the good news that many people with HIV can have a standard lifespan, some groups are still more likely to have a shorter life.^1,3,6

People without ideal care

Ideal care is important for managing HIV. Ideal care includes:^5,6

• Having health insurance
• Regular doctor appointments
• Access to needed medicine
• A healthy lifestyle
• Taking HIV drugs as prescribed

People who do not get consistent care are more likely to develop treatment-resistant HIV. “Treatment resistant” means the virus is harder to keep in check because the virus has changed and grown.^5,6

Once the HIV virus begins to change, there are fewer drugs that can fight it. The drugs to treat more advanced forms of HIV also tend to be more complicated to take, making it harder to stick with a treatment plan.^5,6

People diagnosed later

People who are diagnosed early and begin treatment soon after transmission tend to live longer. People diagnosed after HIV has begun to damage their immune system often develop HIV-related illnesses that shorten their lives.^1,3

Young people

One study found that 18-year-olds with HIV in the US had a shorter lifespan than their peers without HIV. The reasons varied. Young people who were born with HIV may have shorter lifespans due to taking less effective ARVs as young children. Or, they may lose consistent care when they move from the more supportive care of a pediatrician’s office to an adult doctor.⁶

People who acquire HIV as a teenager also may find it hard to get consistent care. The same study also found that services geared to older people with HIV may not be helpful in keeping young people healthy.⁶

People who use injection drugs

People living with HIV who inject drugs may live shorter lives due to drug overdoses or bacterial infections.³

Older people

People with HIV who also develop heart disease, liver disease, or cancer may have a shorter life span, just like their peers who develop these conditions. These conditions are more likely to cause death than HIV is. Good medical care and a healthy lifestyle help prolong life for everyone, including those living with HIV.³

Hope for the future

In 2022, there were about 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States. Just over half of them were age 50 and older. Those in their teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s made up the other half.¹

Since medical science tends to improve over time, we can hope that healthcare for people with HIV will continue to improve too. There is still much to learn about caring for people with HIV. We are still learning how HIV and its treatments will affect people later in life, especially after many years of taking ARVs.¹

But each year brings better anti-HIV drugs that have fewer side effects and are easier to take. Doctors are learning better ways to care for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions in people who also have HIV. Each improvement means a long, healthy life is entirely possible for people living with HIV.¹