Policy Asks
Enhancing the long-term health and well-being of people living with HIV
“The HIV Outcomes policy asks are an important step towards a shared vision in which all people living with HIV should enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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Priority recommendations for action
This policy paper was developed in collaboration with HIV Outcomes national country initiatives, Steering Group members, and General members from across the WHO European Region. It includes four key areas where action is needed to improve health and well-being among people with HIV:
Comorbidity prevention, treatment and management
Ageing with HIV
Measurement of person-reported outcomes (PROs) and monitoring of HRQoL
Combatting stigma and discrimination
With widespread availability of anti-retroviral therapy, life expectancy among people with HIV is approaching that of the general population. Yet this does not always mean years spent in good health.
People living with HIV are at higher risk of developing a range of other physical and mental health conditions (comorbidities). These include cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, lower bone mineral density, frailty and other physical disabilities, as well as depression and anxiety. The prevalence of poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is also higher among people with HIV than in the general population.
To address these multi-faceted challenges, an integrated and person-centred approach is required. Integrated, person-centred care entails responsiveness and sensitivity to individual needs and preferences, including those associated with specific population groups. It requires a focus on what it means to grow older with HIV, as well as stigma and discrimination at all levels.