Schmidt HR, Heise MJ, Sassaman K, D'Angelo A, Martinson T, Mahuvakar S, Duncan DT, Horvath KJ, Hirshfield S, Williams R, Johnson M, Grov C, Carrico A, Gandhi M, Spinelli MA. High viral suppression amid demographic disparities: a US national cohort of people with HIV on a popular dating app.
AIDS 2025;
39:1080-1085. [PMID:
40053492 PMCID:
PMC12122227 DOI:
10.1097/qad.0000000000004173]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2025] [Accepted: 02/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/09/2025]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the prevalence and examine demographic disparities of viral suppression (VS, <200 copies/ml) and awareness of VS status among people with HIV (PWH) on a popular geosocial networking/dating application (GSN-app).
DESIGN
Cross-sectional, observational study.
METHODS
US adult PWH were remotely-recruited through a GSN-app to complete a survey from January-September 2024. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of self-reported awareness of VS status and VS using modified Poisson regression with the following variables: demographics, substance use, region, and Ending-the-HIV-Epidemic priority jurisdiction. Laboratory-based viral loads were collected from a sub-sample of the cohort, allowing comparison of laboratory-based VS to self-reported VS.
RESULTS
Among 2838 geographically diverse participants, 28% were Black, 32% aged 18-34 years, and 36% reported stimulant use. Overall, 94.9% reported knowing their VS status. Younger, Black, and stimulant-using PWH were less likely to know their VS status. When VS status was known, 93.5% reported VS. Younger and stimulant-using PWH were less likely to report VS. Of the sub-sample with laboratory verification ( n = 923), 91.6% who self-reported VS demonstrated laboratory-confirmed VS.
CONCLUSION
This remotely-recruited US national survey showed high self-reported VS among PWH on a popular GSN-app, in high concordance with laboratory-confirmed VS in a sub-sample. Stimulant use was reported by over one-third of participants, with lower reported VS in this group. Inequities in awareness of VS status among younger, Black, and stimulant-using people with HIV (PWH) and lower VS among younger and stimulant-using PWH should be ameliorated through targeted care reengagement and adherence interventions, potentially via GSN-apps.
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