Single Adults Might Experience Fast HIV Progression

Researchers from Switzerland reported at the Ninth European Conference on AIDS, held in October in Warsaw, that HIV-positive single people appear to progress faster to an AIDS diagnosis and death than those in a 'stable relationship.' The five-year study of more than 3,700 HIV-positive adults showed that those with a stable sex partner were half as likely as single HIV-infected adults to die of AIDS-related complications during the course of the study and were more likely to post CD4-cell rebounds of at least a 100 count. The study authors suggest the emotional and social support provided by a partner was the primary factor in the improved outcomes for HIV-positive adults in relationships. They also noted that single HIV-positive people were more likely to experience depression, which can lead to problems adhering to complex antiretroviral drug regimens, fueling faster HIV disease progression.