Treatment advances have improved survival for people living with HIV who have access to care. HIV is now considered to be chronic and episodic with periods of wellness and illness.
As many people with HIV are living longer, they face a number of health challenges related to HIV, concurrent health conditions, and side effects of treatment.
A 2004 survey in Canada was the first to document the high prevalence of disability among people living with HIV. At least 80% of respondents experienced a minimum of one impairment (e.g. fatigue, pain, memory problems), activity limitation (e.g. difficulty carrying out daily activities) or social participation restriction (e.g. employment, financial independence) in the previous month.1
These findings highlight the role for rehabilitation for people to meet the challenges of living, and aging with HIV.
1 Rusch M, Nixon S, Schilder A, Braitstein P, Chan K, Hogg RS. Impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions: prevalence and associations among persons living with HIV/AIDS in British Columbia. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004 Sep 6;2:46. PubMed PMID: 15350202