News & Media > BHIVA welcomes study revealing increased life expectancy for people with HIV in the UK

BHIVA welcomes study revealing increased life expectancy for people with HIV in the UK

BHIVA members contribute to BMJ paper on impact of late diagnosis and improved HIV treatments

London (11 October 2011) – BHIVA (British HIV Association), the UK’s leading association representing professionals in HIV care, welcomes the findings of the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) study on life expectancy in people with HIV.

BHIVA embraces the finding that people with HIV now have 15 years longer life expectancy thanks to improvements in treatment, better and more effective antiretroviral therapy and an upward trend in the UK population life expectancy.

The study, published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), also addresses the impact of late diagnosis and treatment. Researchers, including many BHIVA members, led by Dr. Margaret May of the University of Bristol found greater reductions in life expectancy (more than 15 years lost) in those who start anti-retroviral treatment late rather than early, providing more evidence in favour of earlier treatment.


Professor Jane Anderson, Chairman, BHIVA comments:

"The information from this study not only highlights the benefits that high quality, modern therapy can bring but provides more evidence that late presentation to clinical services compromises long term outcomes."

"The improvement in life expectancy for people living with HIV infection in the UK is excellent news. It reflects the high standards of clinical care that are available for people who are diagnosed with HIV and have access to appropriate treatment in time."

"The data also reinforces just how important it is that both health care providers and the public prioritise HIV testing, followed by treatment for those found to be positive."


About BHIVA

Founded in 1995, BHIVA has become the leading UK professional association representing professionals in HIV care.

It acts as a national advisory body to professions and other organisations on all aspects of HIV care. BHIVA also provides a national platform for HIV care and contributes representatives for international, national and local committees dealing with HIV care. In addition, BHIVA works to promote undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education within HIV care.

The current membership of the association is over 1,000 across a wide range of healthcare professionals and other HIV healthcare workers.



If you would like to further discuss the study and its findings with BHIVA or if you have any questions about HIV care in the UK please contact:

Rory King
MHP Communications
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 203 128 8564