Ageing with HIV in Hong Kong and Australia

Researchers from CUHK and UQ share their research on the experiences of people living and ageing with HIV.

To cultivate ties and deepen engagements, CUHK and The University of Queensland (UQ) are collaborating in a webinar series on health equity to generate dialogues on this topic of global significance. Following the first webinar on ‘Healthy Ageing in a Changing World’ in September, the second webinar themed ‘The Tale of Two Populations: Ageing with HIV in Hong Kong and Australia’ was held on 25 October.

The event featured Prof. Grace Lui of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CUHK as well as Prof. Lisa Fitzgerald, Prof. Allyson Mutch and Dr. Judith Dean of the School of Public Health at UQ who shared their research on the experiences of people living and ageing with HIV using both clinical and social science lens. There was a consensus that environmental factors, such as social connection with family, peers, and community, are as important as good health and treatment, if not more, in contributing to successful ageing for people with HIV in Hong Kong and Australia.

During the webinar, Prof. Lui presented her research on the treatment of comorbidities in ageing HIV-infected people and the models of HIV-geriatrics care. She reflected on the goals of the management of people living and ageing with HIV (PLHIV), ‘We should have a paradigm shift from a purely HIV-directed goal to a more holistic approach in improving their general wellbeing and quality of life’.

Prof. Fitzgerald and Prof. Mutch shared a 7-year, qualitative longitudinal study exploring the experiences of PLHIV in a time of changes, as well as the social determinants of ageing and health, such as housing, precarity, stigma, social support, social isolation, and access to services.

Two more webinars on the social determinants of health and health outcomes, and health economics will take place in 2022. To register your interest in these events, please email the Office of Academic Links.

Watch the video to revisit the webinar (CUHK members only).