Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to thank you for your participation in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) that allows us to better understand and treat HIV infection. 
At the end of the year, we would like to inform you about the most important studies published in 2012 within the framework of the SHCS.

Prognosis of HIV infection has improved
Life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved over the last 25 years, and most patients do not die from HIV infection any more. Prevention of cancer and liver diseases (hepatitis B and C) remains very important. At least one-third of all cancers are preventable with simple lifestyle changes such as not smoking, physical activity, healthy diet, moderate alcohol use, sunscreen and screening programmes for some cancers. 
Weber R. et al., HIV medicine (2012); epub ahead of print

Response to treatment is excellent 
Up to 90% of people starting a combination antiretroviral therapy achieve fully virological suppression, regardless of which antiretroviral drug combination has been given. These findings are very important as HIV therapy has to be continued lifelong and HIV transmission is dramatically reduced when HIV virus is very low.   
Elzi L. et al., Archives of Internal Medicine (2012); 172:1313-21

Co-infection with hepatitis C is increasing in men who have sex with men 
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease of the liver transmitted through blood products and, more rarely, sexual intercourse. Chronic liver infection can lead after many years to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Rates of hepatitis C co-infection have decreased over the last 13 years in injecting drug users due to needle exchange programs, but have increased by 18-fold in men who have sex with men because of increasing unprotected sexual intercourse. These data underline the importance of prevention among HIV-infected men who have sex with men to use of condoms and to diagnose hepatitis C earlier, as efficacious specific treatments are now available.
Wandeler G. et al. Clinical Infectious Diseases (2012); 55:1408-16

Fewer drug resistances with new HIV drugs
The emergence of drug resistances has substantially declined over the last years in patients receiving new combination antiretroviral therapies, most likely because of improved tolerability and once-daily dosing resulting in improved adherence to treatment.
Von Wyl V. et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases (2012); 54:131-40

We would like to thank you for your confidence, and hope that you will continue to give us your support.

We wish you all the very best for the New Year.

Team of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study