An expert describes the studies that treating physicians will likely find most interesting.
The year 2009 marked the 11th meeting of what HIV clinicians have always referred to as “the lipodystrophy workshop.” However, that nickname no longer matches the official title of the meeting: This year, conference organizers dropped the word “lipodystrophy” in favor of the broader term “co-morbidities” to reflect an ongoing evolution both in the meeting itself and in HIV research overall. With the vast improvements in HIV treatment over the past decade, and the longer lifespans of many patients, our focus has shifted from the side effects of specific antiretrovirals to issues around co-morbidities and aging. This shift was apparent in every aspect of the meeting, from the overarching topic areas (atherosclerosis, neurological complication…