When beginning some course of treatment for a manageable chronic disease such as HIV and AIDS it is important for one to follow their advice, maintain a regular schedule of appointments, and execute the pharmaceutical treatment regimen strictly. These three practices help HIV/AIDS patients effectively manage living with the HIV/AIDS virus.

If ever there was doubt as to the importance of regular visits with one’s HIV/AIDS health care practitioner, those doubts can now be put to bed. A study has recently surfaced which has identified a causal link between missed doctors’ visits, and an increased mortality rate.

This analysis focused retrospectively within a group of HIV clinical patients who had established their initial outpatient treatment for HIV infection at the University of Alabama HIV/AIDS Clinic. All of the 543 study participants were evaluated between 2000 through to 2005. Patients who missed visits within the first year after initiating outpatient treatment were shown to have twice the rate of long-term mortality when compared with those patients who maintained regular visits, and attended all of their regularly scheduled appointments.

The results of the analysis showed that among those 543 HIV patients participating in the study, 60% of them missed a visit within the first year. The mortality rate in those patients who missed visits within the first year was 2.3 deaths per 100 person years. In contrast, the mortality rate for those who attended all scheduled visits and appointments with their HIV/AIDS practitioner was 1 death per 100 person years. Other factors such as age, overall health, and CD4 counts were all taken into account when comparing the risk factors and determining the overall mortality rate.

One thing is clear when reading the results of the study, and that is that mortality rates increase when skipping or missing regularly scheduled appointments. However, it is worthwhile to note the study’s authors posit that the nearly doubling rate of mortality is not a direct consequence of missing those appointments, but rather, are identifiers of those HIV patients who are more likely to exhibit behaviors which can lead to increased mortality earlier in life.

Just keep in mind that the patients should follow the advice of doctor/specialist to get the best treatment.By simply following the instructions provided and HIV/AIDS specialist, by strictly adhering to regularly scheduled appointments, and adhering to the pharmaceutical regimen as prescribed, one can effectively reduce their risk of premature mortality in half.