Despite the major advances in the management of HIV infection, HIV-infected patients still have greater morbidity\r\nand mortality than the general population. Serious non-AIDS events (SNAEs), including non-AIDS malignancies,\r\ncardiovascular events, renal and hepatic disease, bone disorders and neurocognitive impairment, have become the\r\nmajor causes of morbidity and mortality in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. SNAEs occur at the rate of 1 to 2 per\r\n100 person-years of follow-up. The pathogenesis of SNAEs is multifactorial and includes the direct effect of HIV and\r\nassociated immunodeficiency, underlying co-infections and co-morbidities, immune activation with associated\r\ninflammation and coagulopathy as well as ART toxicities. A number of novel strategies such as ART intensification,\r\ntreatment of co-infection, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and agents that reduce microbial translocation are\r\ncurrently being examined for their potential effects in reducing immune activation and SNAEs. However, currently,\r\ninitiation of ART before advanced immunodeficiency, smoking cessation, optimisation of cardiovascular risk factors\r\nand treatment of HCV infection are most strongly linked with reduced risk of SNAEs or mortality. Clinicians should\r\ntherefore focus their attention on addressing these issues prior to the availability of further data
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