The Climate Change Burden on Immune Health: Are Persons Living with HIV More at Risk?

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2024 May 27. doi: 10.1089/AID.2024.0050. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Climate change poses one of the most significant modern threats to overall human health,especially for vulnerable populations including persons living with HIV (PLWH). In this perspective, we specifically explore the concept of immune resilience in human health and how climate change phenomena - including extreme weather events, food insecurity, pollution, and emerging diseases - may exacerbate immune dysfunction and comorbidities faced by PLWH and hinder access to HIV treatment and prevention services. Multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts are urgently needed to quantify these impacts, develop mitigation strategies, and strengthen policies and funding to bolster immune resilience for PLWH in the face of accelerating climate change.

Keywords: immunity, climate change; persons living with HIV; social determinants of health.