Michael Carter

Michael has been writing news reports for NAM since 2002. As a former staff member, he wrote and edited the first editions of many of NAM’s booklets and factsheets.

Cardiovascular disease

Use of beta-blockers to treat high blood pressure in people with HIV associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes

Cardiovascular disease

Type of heart attack differs in people living with HIV: link with drug use and sepsis in younger people

Child developmental issues

Development of children of HIV-positive mothers continues to be impaired, says Zimbabwe study

Treatment outcomes & life expectancy

Higher rates of non-communicable diseases contribute to persisting mortality in people with HIV

Sexually transmitted infections tests & treatment

Not all PrEP programmes are screening for STIs

Cancer

Low CD4 cell count linked to increased risk of cancer among people with HIV in South Africa

Smoking

Higher smoking prevalence among people with HIV in almost all world regions

Contraception

Doubling the dose of emergency contraception is a safe and effective way of overcoming efavirenz interaction

Undetectable viral load & treatment as prevention

Ten-year Italian study shows that people with HIV remain undetectable for 97% of the time

PrEP

Younger age, problems obtaining PrEP, and worries about side effects among the factors associated with PrEP discontinuation in Germany

Cancer

History of anogenital warts associated with risk of anal cancer among people living with HIV

Liver disease

Middle-aged people with HIV and no hepatitis co-infection have a twofold increase in the risk of liver fibrosis

Sleep

Living with HIV associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of insomnia

Neurological & cognitive problems

Data from routine clinical care shows people with HIV have an increased risk of dementia and that it's diagnosed at a younger age

Sexually transmitted infections epidemiology

Number of LGV cases among gay men in England reach new highs and most cases among men who are HIV negative

Side effects

Meta-analysis finds no real difference in safety and effectiveness between tenofovir formulations

Cancer

Women with HIV have sixfold increase in risk of cervical cancer

Self-testing & home testing

Dried blood spots have clear advantages over mini tubes when it comes to lab analysis of home collected samples for HIV and syphilis testing