Life expectancy of HIV-positive adults: a review.

We review studies estimating life expectancy (LE), the average number of additional years a person can expect to live, for HIV-positive adults and show variation by sociodemographic factors and level of immunosuppression. The LE of patients starting antiretroviral therapy early in the course of HIV infection and attaining restoration of a normal CD4 count may approach that of the general population. Improvements in treatment and the associated increase in LE imply that increasing numbers of HIV-positive patients will live to older age. Late diagnosis and presentation to care and treatment not concordant with guidelines contribute to reducing LE.