South Africa Unveils New Guidelines for Older People Living with HIV

• South Africa has released its first set of clinical guidelines focused on older people living with HIV.
• The guidelines aim to help individuals stay healthier for longer in a resource-strained health system.
• Over 1.9 million individuals over 50 are living with HIV in South Africa, a number projected to rise to over 3.6 million by 2035.

'Antiretroviral therapy has expanded the lifespan of people with HIV, but we must now also consider how to preserve the 'health span' in this group.' - Dr. Camilla Wattrus

South Africa has released its first set of clinical guidelines focused on older people living with HIV, aimed at helping them stay healthier for longer in a resource-strained health system. The guidelines were developed by a dozen experts from various disciplines and published in the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine. This move is particularly significant given South Africa's ageing population of people living with HIV, which has more than doubled since 2015, with over 1.9 million individuals over 50 living with the virus as of 2025.

The new guidelines are a response to the changing demographics of people living with HIV in South Africa, where antiretroviral therapy has expanded lifespan but not necessarily translated to good health years. According to Dr. Camilla Wattrus, Clinical Director at the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society and one of the guidelines' authors, 'Antiretroviral therapy has expanded the lifespan of people with HIV, but we must now also consider how to preserve the 'health span' in this group.' This shift in focus highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of non-HIV related health issues affecting older adults living with HIV.

The guidelines are crucial as they address the unique challenges faced by older people living with HIV, who have around 16 fewer years in good health than those without HIV. This disparity is particularly concerning given that antiretroviral treatment has been available in South Africa since the early 2000s, but many individuals started treatment relatively late due to government reluctance. As the population of people living with HIV continues to age, it is essential for healthcare providers to prioritize preserving 'health span' and addressing non-HIV related health issues.

Lawyers advising clients on HIV management should be aware of the new guidelines and consider how to preserve their 'health span' in line with these recommendations, particularly as antiretroviral therapy has expanded lifespan but may not necessarily translate to good health years.

Source: Original reporting via Spotlight