The Role of the Occupational Therapist in Chronic HIV Management

A diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is no longer a death sentence. For more than a decade, the new cases of HIV remain steady in the United States (US); however, HIV rates among those who identify as Black/African Americans, Latinos, and men who have sex with men are increasing [1]. The advent and application of highly effective and more accessible anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has transformed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) into a chronic disease greatly enhancing health outcomes, increasing life longevity, and decreasing HIV transmission among people living with HIV (PLHW) [2,3]. An emergence of age- associated co-morbidities including metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, vestibular, and motor- based diseases occurs among PLWH leading to decreased functional independence with ADLs, IADLs and MRADLs [4-6]. Due to the now chronicity of HIV, occupational therapists should be consulted at onset of diagnosis to assist PLHW with the management of HIV