Deaths Drop Sharply in HIV Population

People infected with HIV in wealthier countries are 28% less likely to die early than they were in 1999, a new study shows. Only 29% of deaths were related to AIDS, the disease caused by HIV. They were still the most common cause of death, but death rates fell by about one-third. The study authors looked at medical data on about 50,000 HIV-infected people. They lived in Australia, Europe or the United States. The study covered the years 1999 through 2011. During these years, HIV medicines improved so much that many infected people who get regular treatment can live a normal life span. About 4,000 people in the study died. The rates of death from heart disease, stroke and related causes dropped by about two-thirds during the study period. Deaths from liver disease were cut in half. Death rates from cancers not linked with AIDS remained stable.