Conference proceedings from the 27th Bangkok International Symposium on HIV medicine

Abstract

The Bangkok Symposium updated participants on recent advances in HIV medicine and other infectious diseases, covering key topics such as managing advanced HIV disease, achieving World Health Organization’s triple elimination goal, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus functional cure, aging HIV populations’ issues including frailty and cognitive impairment, mental health, gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender individuals, long-acting antiretrovirals, and the role of artificial intelligence in advancing HIV care. Speakers and participants came from across Asia, Australia, the USA, and Europe. The Joep Lange Memorial Lecture highlighted the challenges women in the Asia Pacific face in HIV prevention, care and treatment, focusing on gender disparities, limited healthcare access, increasing comorbidities, and the lack of data on the impact of menopause and aging. The David Cooper Memorial Lecture examined emerging resistance to dolutegravir, emphasized the need for improved viral load monitoring, combination regimens, resistance surveillance, and the development of long-acting formulations for sustained treatment success. A highlight of the event was the Great Debate, which focused on whether treatment with statins should be standard of care for all people with HIV (PWH) in the Asia Pacific.