Life expectancy of HIV-positive patients after diagnosis in Iran from 1986 to 2016: A retrospective cohort study at national and sub-national levels.

Objectives: Little is known on the life expectancy of HIV positive patients in Iran. This study aimed to estimate the life expectancy of HIV positive patients in Iran.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we extracted the data from Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and Death Registration System (DRS). We included the patients aged 20 years and older who had specified date of diagnosis. We estimated life expectancy and its 95% confidence interval (CI) using Chinag's methodology.

Results: Overall life expectancy at the national level was 23.1 years (95% CI: 22.6, 23.5). Life expectancy was 21.6 years (95% CI: 21.1, 22.0) for men and 32.7 years (95% CI: 31.4, 34.0) for women. Life expectancy for patients who have received or not received Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) was 37.0 years (95% CI 36.2, 37.8) 15.5 years (95% CI: 15.1, 15.9), respectively. Life expectancy for patients with or without tuberculosis (TB) was 21.6 years (95% CI: 20.4, 22.9) and 36.5 years (95% CI: 35.7, 37.4), respectively.

Conclusion: life expectancy in Iranian HIV positive patients is very low. To improve the longevity, improvement of ART coverage, control and treatment of TB is advised. Keywords: Life Expectancy, HIV, Iran.