A Narrative Review on HIV and Effectiveness of ART Regimen

Forty years after the first cases of HIV were reported, treatment and prevention strategies continue to improve. People diagnosed with HIV should start treatment as soon as possible. If they have another infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART) should begin soon after treating the infection. The first ART options typically involve a daily pill, often including an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI). For patients who have controlled the virus, there is also an option of a long-acting injectable treatment (cabotegravir and rilpivirine [RPV]) that is given every two months. Along with treatment progress, there have been major advancements in HIV prevention, including preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which now includes daily pills and, for the first time, a long-acting injectable version of cabotegravir. As treatment and prevention improve, new challenges and opportunities arise. Since people with HIV are living longer, aging-related issues need special attention and care. It is also important to provide comprehensive care for people with substance use problems to get the best results in treating and preventing HIV. Other infectious diseases, like COVID-19 and monkeypox, also create challenges for both doctors and people with HIV. To overcome these issues and end the HIV epidemic, efforts must increase, with a focus on fairness and equality.