Healthy lifestyle interventions in general practice: Part 9: Lifestyle and HIV/AIDS

Abstract

This article forms the ninth part of the series on the role of lifestyle modification in general practice with specific reference to patients living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS continues to be a major global health priority. The global prevalence of HIV-1, the aetiologic agent responsible for AIDS, has stabilised at 0.8%, yet the number of people living with HIV worldwide continues to grow. In 2008, there were 33.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 2.7 million new infections, and 2.0 million AIDS related deaths. Heterosexual spread is the main mode of transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, which remains the most affected geographical area, with 67% of the global burden.1 Whilst rates of infection are declining in some geographical areas, including some of the most heavily affected countries in Africa, they are increasing elsewhere including Eastern Europe and central Asia. Recent HIV epidemiologic research findings include new insights into the role of HIV viral load, co-infection with sexually transmitted infections, male circumcision, antiretroviral treatment, and superinfection in HIV transmission and prevention.1;2