It has been stated many times that someone who is hiv pos who takes their meds will live decades to a near if not normal lifetime, right? well then why is there still over 12,000 people each year dying from aids in this country????

The answer is to be found within your question. Many of the deaths related to HIV infection in the US are a consequence of suboptimal treatment of HIV. A great number of these deaths are among indviduals for whom taking medication daily is a challenge. Mental illness and substance abuse are often at work and our health care system has a difficult time providing for such persons.

Certainly, there are others who enter the hospital with advanced infection for whom HIV therapy comes too late.

Lastly, are the people who despite excellent HIV treatment responses are unfortunate to suffer from another illness that may or not be related to HIV. Hepatitis C virus is responsible for an increasing number of deaths among those with HIV and cancers are another concern.

So, although mortality related to HIV has dropped dramatically, HIV therapy still has not reached all who can benefit from it, is difficult for many to keep up with and does not fully protect against other life threatening risks that some with the virus face.

DW