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Observational Study
. 2017 Oct;33(10):1027-1034.
doi: 10.1089/AID.2017.0016. Epub 2017 Jun 26.

Trends in HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes over Ten Years of Follow-Up at a Large HIV Primary Medical Home in the Southeastern United States

Michael K Ghiam  1 , Peter F Rebeiro  2   3 , Megan Turner  2 , William B Rogers  2 , Sally S Bebawy  2 , Stephen P Raffanti  2   4 , Anna K Person  2   4 , April C Pettit  2   4
Affiliations
Observational Study

Trends in HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes over Ten Years of Follow-Up at a Large HIV Primary Medical Home in the Southeastern United States

Michael K Ghiam et al. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Longitudinal studies of retention in care (RIC) and viral suppression (VS) in the southeastern United States (US), a region disproportionately affected by HIV infection, are lacking. HIV-infected adults with ≥1 medical visit at the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic (Nashville, Tennessee) from 2004 to 2013 were included. RIC was ≥2 (a) laboratory dates [CD4+ counts or HIV-1 viral loads (VLs)] or (b) provider encounters and/or laboratory dates in the year of interest, ≥90 days apart. VS was a VL of <200 copies/ml at last measurement in the year of interest. Modified Poisson regression estimated relative risk (RR) of RIC and VS, adjusting for age, race, sex, HIV transmission risk, and socioeconomic status (SES). Among 4,641 persons, 76.8% achieved RIC and 70.2% achieved VS. RIC and VS increased from 2004 to 2013 (p < .001 each). For lack of RIC, younger patients (RR = 1.2 and RR = 1.1, 18-24 and 25-34 vs. 35-44 year-olds, respectively), Blacks (RR = 1.3 vs. Whites), and injection drug users (IDUs) (RR = 1.2 vs. heterosexual contact [Hetero]) fared worse (p < .05 each); those with male-to-male sexual contact fared better (RR = 0.8 vs. Hetero, p < .05). For lack of VS, younger patients (RR = 1.3 and RR = 1.2, 18-24 and 25-34 vs. 35-44 year olds, respectively), Blacks (RR 1.3 vs. Whites), Females (RR = 1.1 vs. Males), IDUs (RR 1.3 vs. Hetero), and those with low SES (RR = 1.1 vs. not low SES) fared worse (p < .05, each). RIC and VS increased over time, suggesting that efforts to improve outcomes have been effective. However, disparities persist and resources should focus on groups most at risk.

Keywords: continuum of care; human immunodeficiency virus; retention in care; southeastern United States; viral suppression.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Marginal probabilities from adjusted regression models and observed proportions of retention in care and viral suppression, Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic, 2004–2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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