Rome (Fides Service) – HAART is made up of five or more antiretroviral drugs, both new and recycled, as well as hydroxyurea. According to studies by British doctors HAART can reduce the HIV/AIDS death rate by 80%: patients receiving this treatment may expect to live a decade longer or more.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy introduced in 1997 means that AIDS is not longer an almost instant condemnation to death. Death rates began to drop immediately and in 2001 some 80% less deaths for HIV/AIDS were registered
Before HAART, only 50% of HIV/AIDS affected people could expect to live for more than a decade, and still less if they were over 40. Thanks to Haart age is no longer an aggravating factor. The study also shows that deaths among people infected by drug addiction are four times higher than among those who contract HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse. The world has 40 million HIV positive people, 50,000 in the United Kingdom. Anti-retroviral drugs attack the HIV virus which causes AIDS, slowing the infection’s progress and prolonging the patient’s life. (AP) (27/10/2003 Fides Service ; lines: 22 words:260)