7 in 10 HIV patients are lacking treatment in the US

More than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, the virus that can eventually lead to AIDS, but according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), only three in every 10 HIV patients medically has the virus under control.

Among those who do not have the virus controlled, two-thirds have completely left medical care, and a significant number of people have never even been to a doctor for diagnosis.

SEE ALSO: Less than half of HIV+ Hispanics are receiving this, say experts

The CDC report indicates fewer than half of 18- to 24-year olds with HIV have been diagnosed, and for a 20-year-old who is not seeking treatment for the disease, life expectancy is only around 32 years.

“When you have an infection, you treat it,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Tom Frieden stated in a press conference. “People with HIV who achieve viral suppression aren’t just healthier — they’re also less likely to infect others. Today’s study shows too many people with HIV aren’t getting the care they need.”

The key findings of the report indicated:

• Only 4 in 10 people living with HIV were in HIV medical care.
• Only 3 in 10 people living with HIV achieved viral suppression.
• Of the 1.2 million people living with HIV, 86 percent are diagnosed, 40 percent are engaged in care, 37 percent are prescribed antiretroviral medicines, and 30 percent are virally suppressed.
• Among all people living with HIV who are not virally suppressed, 66 pecent are diagnosed but not in care; 20 percent are not diagnosed; 10percent are on antiretroviral medicines but not virally suppressed; and 4 percent are in care but not on antiretroviral medicines.
• The average lifespan of a person without HIV is 79 years. The average lifespan of a person with HIV diagnosed at age 20 taking current HIV medicines is 71 years. The average lifespan of a person with HIV diagnosed at age 20 not taking current HIV medicines is 32 years.

For officials, the numbers don’t make sense because of how far HIV treatment has come since the disease was first reported.

“We’ve got such great treatment of HIV now that people living with HIV can have an almost normal lifespan,” Frieden said, as reported by NBC News.

“Some people may not know where to go, or they may have trouble accessing care. Taking treatment for an infection that may have no symptoms and that you need to take for life is not easy,” he added. “That is why it is so important that services for people living with HIV be easy (to access).”

Though the study looked at the number of HIV patients in care, it did not look at why those patients did or did not receive the health support they needed.

SEE ALSO: The overlooked way to decrease the spread of HIV

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