HIV care controls the virus but fails to keep some patients alive

Key Points:

• Wanda Demus, living with HIV for over 36 years, also faces complex PTSD, addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, and sex trafficking, highlighting the multifaceted challenges faced by many with HIV beyond the virus itself.
• UCSF researchers emphasize that many people with HIV die prematurely not solely from the virus but due to intertwined factors like trauma, mental illness, and substance use, which are often underreported on death certificates.
• Current HIV care in the U.S. focuses heavily on viral control but neglects broader health and social issues, prompting UCSF experts to propose adding a "survival" stage to the HIV care continuum to address these complexities.
• A trauma-informed care model at UCSF’s Women’s HIV Program offers integrated support for mental health, addiction, housing, and stable patient-provider relationships, which has been crucial in improving outcomes for patients like Demus.
• Demus credits the clinic's compassionate, nonjudgmental approach and comprehensive care team for saving her life and providing hope during her struggles with addiction and trauma, underscoring the importance of holistic HIV care.