Updates of Lifetime Costs of Care and Quality-of-Life Estimates for HIV-Infected Persons in the United States: Late Versus Early Diagnosis and Entry Into Care

Cost-Effectiveness of Using Conditional Economic Incentives to Improve Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Among Male Sex Workers

INTRODUCTION

Conditional economic incentives can improve medication-taking behaviors among populations at risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, there are no data on the cost-effectiveness of incentive programs for improving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence among male sex workers (MSWs) who have one of the highest HIV acquisition rates. Our objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of incentive programs to improve adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among male sex workers METHODS: We conducted an economic evaluation of the PrEP Seguro randomized pilot trial in Mexico (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03674983). Among n = 110 MSWs, those randomized to the intervention received tiered incentives based on PrEP drug levels in scalp hair measured at three clinic visits over 6 months. The intervention led to a 28.7% increase in scalp hair PrEP concentration, consistent with increased adherence (p = 0.05). Here we use a micro-costing approach from the health system perspective to calculate costs. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated from the number of HIV infections averted through sufficient PrEP adherence (tenofovir concentration > 0.011 ng/mg corresponding to greater than or equal to three weekly doses). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) estimated the cost/QALY gained owing to the intervention.

RESULTS

The mean cost per patient was US $165.53 and $179.55 among standard care and incentive patients, respectively. Over 6 months of follow-up, 62% of standard care patients and 78% of incentive recipients were PrEP adherent. After the program, the lifetime average QALYs gained per infection avoided were 9.17 (minimum, maximum: 7.5, 10.8) and 9.84 (minimum, maximum: 8.05, 11.6) among standard care and incentive patients, respectively. The 6-month ICER was US $20.92/QALY gained by the intervention, which was highly cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of US $8655 (Mexico's 2020 per capita gross domestic product (GDP)).

DISCUSSION

Using behavioral economics approaches for enhancing adherence to HIV prevention may offer health and fiscal benefits through reduced HIV incidence. Fully powered implementation trials can determine future cost-effectiveness of scaling up incentives for PrEP adherence among high-risk populations.

Multi-level Factors Associated with HIV Late Presentation with Advanced Disease and Delay Time of Diagnosis in South Carolina, 2005-2019

This study explored individual- and county-level risk factors of late presentation with advanced disease (LPAD) among people with HIV (PWH) and their longer delay time from infection to diagnosis in South Carolina (SC), using SC statewide Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS). LPAD was defined as having an AIDS diagnosis within three months of initial HIV diagnosis, and delay time from HIV infection to diagnosis was estimated using CD4 depletion model. 3,733 (41.88%) out of 8,913 adult PWH diagnosed from 2005 to 2019 in SC were LPAD, and the median delay time was 13.04 years. Based on the generalized estimating equations models, PWH who were male (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12 ∼ 1.33), aged 55+ (aPR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.62 ∼ 1.92), were Black (aPR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03 ∼ 1.15) or Hispanic (aPR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.26 ∼ 1.61), and living in counties with a larger proportion of unemployment individuals (aPR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 ∼ 1.03) were more likely to be LPAD. Among PWH who were LPAD, Hispanic (adjusted beta: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.49 ∼ 1.85) instead of Black (adjusted beta: 0.11, 95% CI: -0.30 ∼ 0.52) individuals had significant longer delay time compared to White individuals. Targeted and sustained interventions are needed for older, male, Hispanic or Black individuals and those living in counties with a higher percentage of unemployment because of their higher risk of LPAD. Additionally, specific attention should be paid to Hispanic individuals due to their longer delay time to diagnosis.

Asymptomatic Rectal Bacterial Pathogens Show Large Prospective Relationships With HIV Incidence in a Cohort of Young Sexual and Gender Minorities: Implications for STI Screening and HIV Prevention

Background

We estimated the predictive value of rectal (bacterial sexually transmitted infection [bSTI]) pathogen detection for future HIV seroconversion among young adult sexual and gender minorities (YSGMs) assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Methods

Data were collected between March 2018 and August 2022 from RADAR, a longitudinal cohort study of YSGMs AMAB living in the Chicago metropolitan area (n = 1022). Rates of rectal bSTIs and the proportion of self-reported rectal bSTI symptoms are reported. We examined whether the presence of rectal bSTIs predicted HIV seroconversion using generalized estimating equations (GEEs).

Results

Participants tested reactive for rectal Mycoplasma genitalium (MGen), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) at a rate of 20.8 (95% CI, 18.4-23.5), 6.5 (95% CI, 5.0-8.2), and 8.4 (95% CI, 6.8-10.3) cases per 100 persons, respectively. There were no statistically significant pairwise differences in self-reported rectal bSTI symptoms between participants with self-collected swabs testing nonreactive vs reactive for rectal MGen (χ2 = 0.04; P = .84), NG (χ2 = 0.45; P = .37), or CT (χ2 = 0.39; P = .46). In multivariate GEE analysis, rectal NG (adjusted odds ratio, 5.11; 95% CI, 1.20-21.77) was a statistically significant predictor of HIV seroconversion after controlling for other bSTIs, demographics, and sexual risk behavior.

Conclusions

Our findings provide a robust longitudinal estimation of the relationship between primarily asymptomatic rectal NG nucleic acid detection and HIV infection. These findings highlight the importance of asymptomatic screening for bSTIs and targeting biobehavioral intervention to prevent HIV infection among YSGMs with rectal bSTI agents detected.

HIV subtypes and molecular transmission characteristics among elderly HIV-infected individuals aged 50 and above: a cross-sectional study in Huzhou City, Eastern China

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the HIV-1 subtypes and molecular transmission characteristics of HIV-infected older individuals aged 50 and above in Huzhou City, and provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment strategies for them.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study with clustered molecular transmission network cases was performed, and basic epidemiological information was retrieved from the Chinese Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Information System.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A molecular epidemiological study was conducted in 899 newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals from January 2019 and March 2023 in Huzhou city, Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Out of these, HIV sequences were successfully obtained from 673 individuals, including 274 who were older individuals aged 50 and above.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR were used to amplify the polymerase gene of HIV-1, and gene sequencing was performed. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to describe the association of clustered molecular transmission network cases.

RESULTS

In total, 274 valid HIV sequences of older individuals were obtained, which revealed 14 subtypes. Circulating recombinant forms (CRF) 07_BC accounted for 55.8% and CRF01_AE accounted for 20.1% of the subtypes. Data of 150 older individuals were included in the molecular transmission network, and the proportion of elderly individuals in clustered cases is 52.26% (150/287). The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the older age group (60-82 years) and CRF07_BC subtype were associated with case clustering (transmission risk).

CONCLUSIONS

The key high-risk transmission network was mainly composed of the older age group (60-82 years) and CRF07_BC subtype. It is necessary to further strengthen AIDS health promotion and education for individuals aged 60 years and above, as well as for patients with the CRF07_BC subtype, to reduce HIV transmission and clustering risk.

Economic Evaluations of Establishing Opioid Overdose Prevention Centers in 12 North American Cities: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) provide a safe place where people can consume preobtained drugs under supervision so that a life-saving medical response can be provided quickly in the event of an overdose. OPCs are programs that are established in Canada and have recently become legally sanctioned in only a few United States jurisdictions.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review that summarizes and identifies gaps of economic evidence on establishing OPCs in North America to guide future expansion of OPCs.

RESULTS

We included 16 final studies that were evaluated with the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards and Drummond checklists. Eight studies reported cost-effectiveness results (eg, cost per overdose avoided or cost per quality-adjusted life-year), with 6 also including cost-benefit; 5 reported only cost-benefit results, and 3 cost offsets. Health outcomes primarily included overdose mortality outcomes or HIV/hepatitis C virus infections averted. Most studies used mathematical modeling and projected OPC outcomes using the experience of a single facility in Vancouver, BC.

CONCLUSIONS

OPCs were found to be cost-saving or to have favorable cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit ratios across all studies. Future studies should incorporate the experience of OPCs established in various settings and use a greater diversity of modeling designs.

Cost-effectiveness of Cabotegravir Long-Acting for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the United States

OBJECTIVE

Cabotegravir long-acting (CAB-LA) administered every 2 months was approved in the USA as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection based on the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 083 and HPTN 084 clinical trials, which demonstrated superior reduction in HIV-1 acquisition compared with daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) in men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women (TGW), and cisgender women. A decision-analytic model was developed to assess the lifetime cost-effectiveness of initiating CAB-LA versus generic oral FTC/TDF for HIV PrEP in the USA from a healthcare sector perspective.

METHODS

PrEP-eligible adults entered the Markov model receiving CAB-LA or FTC/TDF and could continue initial PrEP, transition to a second PrEP option, or discontinue PrEP over time. Efficacy was taken from the HPTN 083 and HPTN 084 clinical trials. Individuals who acquired HIV-1 infection incurred lifetime HIV-related costs, could transmit HIV onwards, and could develop PrEP-related resistance mutations. Input parameter values were obtained from public and published sources. Model outcomes were discounted at 3%.

RESULTS

The model estimated that the CAB-LA pathway prevented 4.5 more primary and secondary HIV-1 infections per 100 PrEP users than the oral PrEP pathway, which yielded 0.2 fewer quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) lost per person. Additional per-person lifetime costs were $9476 (2022 US dollars), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,843 per QALY gained. Results remained consistent in sensitivity and scenario analyses, including in underserved populations with low oral PrEP usage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis suggests that initiating CAB-LA for PrEP is cost-effective versus generic daily oral FTC/TDF for individuals at risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection.

Tackling late HIV diagnosis: Lessons from the UK in the COVID-19 era

INTRODUCTION

Late diagnosis of HIV is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and an increased risk of non-infectious comorbidities. On a societal level, late diagnosis leads to higher treatment and healthcare costs and is a major driver of HIV transmission. Despite improvements in other areas of the HIV care pathway, late diagnosis remains an individual and public health concern globally.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the barriers to HIV testing and highlight successful strategies to improve prompt diagnosis. This review describes the prevalence of late diagnosis in the UK and discusses key factors that contribute to late diagnosis, including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Late HIV diagnosis is lower in the UK than in most other European countries. In this review, pilot projects and ongoing initiatives that have reduced late diagnosis in the UK are highlighted; moreover, further strategies for improving prompt diagnosis are suggested.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient testing is the fundamental reason for late HIV diagnosis, with societal, systemic, and individual factors all contributing to inadequate testing. Improving access to testing, removing barriers to health-seeking behaviour, and ensuring all people with HIV indicator conditions are promptly tested are key to reducing the rates of late diagnosis globally.

Neighborhood characteristics and HIV treatment outcomes: A scoping review

Recognizing challenges faced by people living with HIV is vital for improving their HIV treatment outcomes. While individual-level interventions play a crucial role, community factors can shape the impact of individual interventions on treatment outcomes. Understanding neighborhood characteristics' association with HIV treatment outcomes is crucial for optimizing effectiveness. This review aims to summarize the research scope on the association between neighborhood characteristics and HIV treatment outcomes. The databases PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase (Elsevier), and PsychINFO (EBSCOhost) were searched from the start of each database to Nov 21, 2022. Screening was performed by three independent reviewers. Full-text publications of all study design meeting inclusion criteria were included in the review. There were no language or geographical limitations. Conference proceedings, abstract only, and opinion reports were excluded from the review. The search yielded 7,822 publications, 35 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Studies assessed the relationship between neighborhood-level disadvantage (n = 24), composition and interaction (n = 17), social-economic status (n = 18), deprivation (n = 16), disorder (n = 8), and rural-urban status (n = 7) and HIV treatment outcomes. The relationship between all neighborhood characteristics and HIV treatment outcomes was not consistent across studies. Only 7 studies found deprivation had a negative association with HIV treatment outcomes; 6 found that areas with specific racial/ethnic densities were associated with poor HIV treatment outcomes, and 5 showed that disorder was associated with poor HIV treatment outcomes. Three studies showed that rural residence was associated with improved HIV treatment outcomes. There were inconsistent findings regarding the association between neighborhood characteristics and HIV treatment outcomes. While the impact of neighborhood characteristics on disease outcomes is highly recognized, there is a paucity of standardized definitions and metrics for community characteristics to support a robust assessment of this hypothesis. Comparative studies that define and assess how specific neighborhood indicators independently or jointly affect HIV treatment outcomes are highly needed.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Disruptions in the HIV Continuum of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons From a Clinic-Based Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected healthcare services, including HIV patient care. This study assessed the impact of the pandemic on diverse aspects of care for individuals living with HIV (PLWH).

METHODS

Patient data from 2019 to 2021 were collected using the Cascades template, provided by the New York State Department of Health, focusing on viral testing and suppression outcomes. Age, ethnicity, sex, and race were considered variables and analyzed via chi-square analysis, logistic regression model, and F test.

RESULTS

The pandemic significantly reduced viral testing in 2020 due to restrictions and closures, but telemedicine and tele-pharmacy helped maintain care. Age was a crucial factor, predicting higher viral testing and suppression odds for older individuals, but no significant differences were observed between patient gender, race, or ethnicity in obtaining viral testing or achieving suppression.

CONCLUSIONS

While limitations existed, this study provides insights into sustaining care during crises, highlighting the importance of innovative healthcare delivery methods and age-sensitive approaches for PLWH.

Weight and BMI Changes Following Initiation of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide Co-Formulated with Darunavir or Co-Administered with Dolutegravir in Overweight or Obese, ART-Naïve People Living with HIV-1

Introduction

Integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based regimens (eg, containing dolutegravir [DTG]) are associated with weight/body mass index (BMI) increases among people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). Assessing antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related weight/BMI changes is challenging, as PLWH may experience return-to-health weight gain as a result of viral suppression. This retrospective, longitudinal real-world study compared weight/BMI outcomes among overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m²; thus excluding return-to-health weight/BMI changes), treatment-naïve PLWH who initiated darunavir (DRV)/cobicistat (c)/emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) or DTG + FTC/TAF.

Methods

Treatment-naïve PLWH with BMI ≥25 kg/m² who initiated DRV/c/FTC/TAF or DTG + FTC/TAF (index date) had ≥12 months of baseline observation and ≥1 weight/BMI measurement in baseline and post-index periods in the Symphony Health IDV^® database (07/17/2017-12/31/2021) were included. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance differences in baseline characteristics between cohorts. On-treatment time-to-weight/BMI increases ≥5% were compared between cohorts using weighted adjusted Cox models.

Results

Post-IPTW, 76 overweight/obese DRV/c/FTC/TAF-treated (mean age = 51.2 years, 30.7% female, 35.6% Black, mean baseline BMI = 33.2 kg/m²) and 88 overweight/obese DTG + FTC/TAF-treated PLWH (mean age = 51.5 years, 31.4% female, 31.4% Black, mean baseline BMI = 32.7 kg/m²) were included. The median [interquartile range] time from ART initiation to weight/BMI increase ≥5% was shorter for the DTG + FTC/TAF cohort (21.8 [9.9, 32.3] months) than the DRV/c/FTC/TAF cohort (median and interquartile times not reached; Kaplan-Meier rate at 21.8 months = 20.8%). Over the entire follow-up, overweight/obese PLWH initiating DTG + FTC/TAF had a more than twofold greater risk of experiencing weight/BMI increase ≥5% compared to those initiating DRV/c/FTC/TAF (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]=2.43 [1.02; 7.04]; p = 0.036).

Conclusion

Overweight/obese PLWH who initiated DTG + FTC/TAF had significantly greater risk of weight/BMI increase ≥5% compared to similar PLWH who initiated DRV/c/FTC/TAF and had shorter time-to-weight/BMI increase ≥5%, suggesting a need for additional monitoring to assess the risk of weight gain-related cardiometabolic disease.

Modeling the future of HIV in Turkey: Cost-effectiveness analysis of improving testing and diagnosis

AIMS

This study aimed to determine HIV incidence and prevalence in Turkey and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of improving testing and diagnosis in the next 20 years.

BACKGROUND

HIV incidence in Turkey has been rapidly increasing in the last decade with a particularly high rate of infection for younger populations, which underscores the urgent need for a robust prevention program and improved testing capacity for HIV.

METHODS

We developed a dynamic compartmental model of HIV transmission and progression among the Turkish population aged 15-64 and assessed the effect of improving testing and diagnosis. The model generated the number of new HIV cases by transmission risk and CD4 level, HIV diagnoses, HIV prevalence, continuum of care, the number of HIV-related deaths, and the expected number of infections prevented from 2020 to 2040. We also explored the cost impact of HIV and the cost-effectiveness of improving testing and diagnosis.

RESULTS

Under the base case scenario, the model estimated an HIV incidence of 13,462 cases in 2020, with 63% undiagnosed. The number of infections was estimated to increase by 27% by 2040, with HIV incidence in 2040 reaching 376,889 and HIV prevalence 2,414,965 cases. Improving testing and diagnosis to 50%, 70%, and 90%, would prevent 782,789, 2,059,399, and 2,336,564 infections-32%, 85%, and 97% reduction in 20 years, respectively. Improved testing and diagnosis would reduce spending between $1.8 and $8.8 billion.

CONCLUSIONS

In the case of no improvement in the current continuum of care, HIV incidence and prevalence will significantly increase over the next 20 years, placing a significant burden on the Turkish healthcare system. However, improving testing and diagnosis could substantially reduce the number of infections, ameliorating the public health and disease burden aspects.

Incidence of cardiometabolic outcomes among people living with HIV-1 initiated on integrase strand transfer inhibitor versus non-integrase strand transfer inhibitor antiretroviral therapies: a retrospective analysis of insurance claims in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with weight gain, though there is limited information on associations between ART-related weight gain and cardiometabolic outcomes among people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). We, therefore, evaluated risks of incident cardiometabolic outcomes following INSTI versus non-INSTI-based ART initiation in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study using IBM MarketScan Research Databases (12 August 2012-31 January 2021). Treatment-naïve PLWH initiating ART (index date) on/after 12 August 2013 (approval date of the first second-generation INSTI, dolutegravir) were included and censored at regimen switch/discontinuation, end of insurance eligibility or end of data availability. We used inverse probability of treatment weights constructed with baseline (12 months pre-index) characteristics to account for differences between INSTI- and non-INSTI-initiating cohorts. Doubly robust hazard ratios (HRs) obtained from weighted multivariable Cox regression were used to compare time to incident cardiometabolic outcomes (congestive heart failure [CHF], coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke/transient ischemic attack, hypertension, type II diabetes, lipid disorders, lipodystrophy and metabolic syndrome) by INSTI-initiation status.

RESULTS

Weighted INSTI (mean age = 39 years, 23% female, 70% commercially insured, 30% Medicaid insured) and non-INSTI (mean age = 39 years, 24% female, 71% commercially insured, 29% Medicaid insured) cohorts included 7059 and 7017 PLWH, respectively. The most common INSTI-containing regimens were elvitegravir-based (43.4%), dolutegravir-based (33.3%) and bictegravir-based (18.4%); the most common non-INSTI-containing regimens were darunavir-based (31.5%), rilpivirine-based (30.4%) and efavirenz-based (28.3%). Mean±standard deviation follow-up periods were 1.5±1.5 and 1.1±1.2 years in INSTI- and non-INSTI-initiating cohorts, respectively. INSTI initiators were at a clinically and significantly increased risk of experiencing incident CHF (HR = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-4.05; p = 0.036), myocardial infarction (HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.03-5.65; p = 0.036) and lipid disorders (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.04-1.58; p = 0.020); there was no evidence of an increased risk for other individual or composite outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Over a short average follow-up period of <2 years, INSTI use among treatment-naïve PLWH was associated with an increased risk of several cardiometabolic outcomes, such as CHF, myocardial infarction and lipid disorders, compared to non-INSTI use. Further research accounting for additional potential confounders and with longer follow-up is warranted to more accurately and precisely quantify the impact of INSTI-containing ART on long-term cardiometabolic outcomes.

Closing the gaps in the continuum of depression care for persons with HIV: modeling the impact on viral suppression in the United States

OBJECTIVE

Depression is prevalent among persons with HIV (PWH) and is associated with poorer adherence and lack of viral load suppression (VLS). When treated for depression, PWH are more likely to stay in HIV care and adhere to medications; however, for many PWH, depression is not adequately diagnosed or treated. We adapted Progression and Transmission of HIV (PATH 3.0), a U.S. agent-based dynamic stochastic simulation model, by incorporating a continuum of depression care and estimating the impact on VLS of an enhanced depression diagnosis and care scenario (EDC).

METHODS

We compared EDC - whereby every PWH is assessed for depression, gets treatment if diagnosed, and of those, half achieve remission - to a status quo scenario (SQ) on VLS. Based on published findings, assumptions for SQ were: 34.7% depressed, 45% diagnosed, 55.3% treated and 33% of treated achieving remission. Compared to PWH without depression, we assumed the probability of being non-virally suppressed increased by 1.57 times for PWH with depression (PWH-D), and by 0.95 times for PWH with remitted depression.

RESULTS

There was an average increase of 14.6% (11.5-18.5) in the proportion of PWH-D who achieved VLS in EDC compared to SQ. Among all PWH, there was a 4.7% (3.4-6.0) increase in the proportion who achieved VLS in EDC compared to SQ.

CONCLUSIONS

Fully diagnosing and adequately treating depression would improve health and quality of life for a substantial proportion of PWH-D and result in a nearly 5% increase in expected rates of VLS in the United States, supporting national prevention goals.

No-show Prediction Model Performance Among People With HIV: External Validation Study

BACKGROUND

Regular medical care is important for people living with HIV. A no-show predictive model among people with HIV could improve clinical care by allowing providers to proactively engage patients at high risk of missing appointments. Epic, a major provider of electronic medical record systems, created a model that predicts a patient's probability of being a no-show for an outpatient health care appointment; however, this model has not been externally validated in people with HIV.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the performance of Epic's no-show model among people with HIV at an academic medical center and assessed whether the performance was impacted by the addition of demographic and HIV clinical information.

METHODS

We obtained encounter data from all in-person appointments among people with HIV from January 21 to March 30, 2022, at the University of Chicago Medicine. We compared the predicted no-show probability at the time of the encounter to the actual outcome of these appointments. We also examined the performance of the Epic model among people with HIV for only HIV care appointments in the infectious diseases department. We further compared the no-show model among people with HIV for HIV care appointments to an alternate random forest model we created using a subset of seven readily accessible features used in the Epic model and four additional features related to HIV clinical care or demographics.

RESULTS

We identified 674 people with HIV who contributed 1406 total scheduled in-person appointments during the study period. Of those, we identified 331 people with HIV who contributed 440 HIV care appointments. The performance of the Epic model among people with HIV for all appointments in any outpatient clinic had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.65 (95% CI 0.63-0.66) and for only HIV care appointments had an AUC of 0.63 (95% CI 0.59-0.67). The alternate model we created for people with HIV attending HIV care appointments had an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.75-0.82), a significant improvement over the Epic model restricted to HIV care appointments (P<.001). Features identified as important in the alternate model included lead time, appointment length, HIV viral load >200 copies per mL, lower CD4 T cell counts (both 50 to <200 cells/mm3 and 200 to <350 cells/mm3), and female sex.

CONCLUSIONS

For both models among people with HIV, performance was significantly lower than reported by Epic. The improvement in the performance of the alternate model over the proprietary Epic model demonstrates that, among people with HIV, the inclusion of demographic information may enhance the prediction of appointment attendance. The alternate model further reveals that the prediction of appointment attendance in people with HIV can be improved by using HIV clinical information such as CD4 count and HIV viral load test results as features in the model.

Real-world weight changes in people with HIV-1 at risk of weight gain (female, Black or Hispanic) switching from integrase strand transfer inhibitors

Aim: Compare weight changes between people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) at high risk of weight gain (females, Blacks or Hispanics) switching from an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) to a protease inhibitor (PI) or another INSTI. Materials & methods: Mean weight changes from pre-switch to up-to-12 months post-switch were retrospectively compared between PLWH switching to a PI or INSTI. Results: 356 PLWH were eligible. At 9- and 12-month post-switch, weight increases were observed for INSTI (weight: +1.55 kg and +1.59 kg), while decreases were observed for PI (-0.23 kg and -1.59 kg); differences between cohorts widened over time. Conclusion: These data suggest that switching off an INSTI may be a management tool to mitigate or reverse weight gain.

Assessing the individual benefits of reducing HIV diagnosis delay and increasing adherence to HIV care and treatment

We used an agent-based simulation model (Progression and Transmission of HIV) to follow for 20 years a cohort of persons in the United States infected with HIV in 2015. We assessed the benefits of reducing the delay between HIV infection and diagnosis and increasing adherence to HIV care and treatment on the percent of persons surviving 20 years after infection, average annual HIV transmission rates, and time spent virally suppressed. We examined average diagnosis delays of 1.0-7.0 years, monthly care drop-out rates of 5% to 0.1%, and combinations of these strategies. The percent of the cohort surviving the first 20 years of infection varied from 70.8% to 77.5%, and the annual transmission risk, from 1.5 to 5.2 HIV transmissions per 100 person-years. Thus, individuals can enhance their survival and reduce their risk of transmission to partners by frequent testing for HIV and adhering to care and treatment.

Association Between Weight Gain and the Incidence of Cardiometabolic Conditions Among People Living with HIV-1 at High Risk of Weight Gain Initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been associated with weight gain in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH); however, limited research has assessed whether early weight gain post-ART initiation is associated with metabolic or cardiovascular outcomes among PLWH at high risk of weight gain (i.e., female, Black or Hispanic). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes between PLWH at high risk of weight gain following an observed ≥ 5% or < 5% weight/body mass index (BMI) gain within 6 months following ART initiation.

METHODS

A retrospective longitudinal study using Symphony Health, an ICON plc Company, IDV® electronic medical records (October 1, 2014-March 31, 2021) identified adult female, Black, or Hispanic treatment-naïve PLWH who initiated ART and who had ≥ 1 weight or BMI measurement pre- and within 6 months post-treatment (landmark period). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to account for differences between PLWH who experienced ≥ 5% and < 5% weight/BMI gain. The time to each outcome was compared between cohorts using weighted hazard ratios (HRs) after the landmark period.

RESULTS

Weighted ≥ 5% and < 5% cohorts included 620 and 632 patients, respectively; baseline characteristics were similar between the two cohorts (mean age: ~ 48 years, ~ 59% female, ~ 49% Black, ~ 17% Hispanic). During a mean 2-year follow-up, PLWH with ≥ 5% weight/BMI gain were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; HR = 2.19; p = 0.044). There were no significant differences in the incidence of any other outcomes between the study cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Despite a short 2-year follow-up, female, Black or Hispanic PLWH experiencing ≥ 5% weight/BMI increase within 6 months following ART initiation had an increased risk of T2DM, but not other metabolic or cardiovascular outcomes, likely due to the short follow-up period. Further research with longer follow-up and specific ART regimens is warranted to examine the impact of ART-related weight gain on long-term clinical outcomes.

Evidence and implication of interventions across various socioecological levels to address HIV testing uptake among men who have sex with men in the United States: A systematic review

Objectives

Strengthening HIV testing uptake is critical to curtail the HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men in the United States. Despite the implementation of various interventions to promote HIV testing among men who have sex with men, few aggregated evidence is presented to reflect the "lessons learned" and inform future directions. The objective of this systematic review is to comprehensively summarize published studies that described, tested, and evaluated outcomes (e.g. efficacy, effectiveness, acceptability, feasibility and/or qualitative opinions) associated with an HIV testing intervention and identify gaps as well as opportunities to inform the design and implementation of future interventions to enhance HIV testing uptake among men who have sex with men in the United States.

Methods

We followed the PRISMA guidelines and conducted a systematic review of articles (published by 23 July 2021) by searching multiple databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science and PsycINFO).

Results

Among the total number of 3505 articles found through multiple databases, 56 papers were included into the review. Interventional modules that demonstrated acceptability, feasibility and efficacy to improve HIV testing uptake among men who have sex with men include: HIV self-testing, interpersonal-level (e.g. peer-led, couple-based) interventions, personalized interventions and technology-based interventions (e.g. mHealth). Aggregated evidence also reflects the lack of individualized interventions that simultaneously address time-varying needs across multiple socioecological levels (e.g. individual, interpersonal, community, structural and societal).

Conclusion

Development of interventions to improve HIV testing rates and frequency of men who have sex with men has proliferated in recent years. Our review presents important implications in sustaining and improving interventions to address HIV testing uptake among men who have sex with men in the United States.

A Tale of Three Recent Pandemics: Influenza, HIV and SARS-CoV-2

Emerging infectious diseases are one of the main threats to public health, with the potential to cause a pandemic when the infectious agent manages to spread globally. The first major pandemic to appear in the 20th century was the influenza pandemic of 1918, caused by the influenza A H1N1 strain that is characterized by a high fatality rate. Another major pandemic was caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that started early in the 20th century and remained undetected until 1981. The ongoing HIV pandemic demonstrated a high mortality and morbidity rate, with discrepant impacts in different regions around the globe. The most recent major pandemic event, is the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has caused over 5.7 million deaths since its emergence, 2 years ago. The aim of this work is to highlight the main determinants of the emergence, epidemic response and available countermeasures of these three pandemics, as we argue that such knowledge is paramount to prepare for the next pandemic. We analyse these pandemics’ historical and epidemiological contexts and the determinants of their emergence. Furthermore, we compare pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been used to slow down these three pandemics and zoom in on the technological advances that were made in the progress. Finally, we discuss the evolution of epidemiological modelling, that has become an essential tool to support public health policy making and discuss it in the context of these three pandemics. While these pandemics are caused by distinct viruses, that ignited in different time periods and in different regions of the globe, our work shows that many of the determinants of their emergence and countermeasures used to halt transmission were common. Therefore, it is important to further improve and optimize such approaches and adapt it to future threatening emerging infectious diseases.

Sexual Risk Behavior and Lifetime HIV Testing: The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Despite the success of HIV prevention drugs such as PrEP, HIV incident transmission rates remain a significant problem in the United States. A life-course perspective, including experiences of childhood adversity, may be useful in addressing the HIV epidemic. This paper used 2019 BRFSS data to elucidate the role that childhood adversity plays in the relationship between HIV risk and HIV testing. Participants (n = 58,258) completed self-report measures of HIV risk behaviors, HIV testing, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The median number ACEs in the sample was 1, with verbal abuse (33.9%), and parental separation (31.3%) being the most common ACEs reported. Bivariate findings showed that all ACEs were associated with increased HIV risk and testing. However, increased risk was not correlated with increased HIV testing, with the highest incongruence related to mental health problems of household member (53.48%). While both self-reported HIV risk and ACEs were positively associated with HIV testing, their interaction had a negative association with testing (aPR = 0.51, 95%CI 0.42, 0.62). The results highlight the need for targeted HIV prevention strategies for at-risk individuals with a history of childhood adversity.

Body mass index increase and weight gain among people living with HIV-1 initiated on single-tablet darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide or bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in the United States

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated body mass index (BMI) and weight changes in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1; PLWH) initiated on single-tablet darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) or bictegravir/FTC/TAF (BIC/FTC/TAF).

METHODS

Electronic medical record (EMR) data for treatment-naïve or virologically suppressed adults with HIV-1 who initiated treatment with DRV/c/FTC/TAF or BIC/FTC/TAF (index date) were obtained from Decision Resources Group's EMRs (17 July 2017-1 March 2020). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to account for differences in baseline characteristics between the two cohorts. BMI and weight changes from pre-index to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months following the index date were compared using weighted mean differences (MDs). The time until an increase in BMI or weight ≥5% or ≥10% was compared using weighted hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

The weighted DRV/c/FTC/TAF and BIC/FTC/TAF cohorts comprised 1116 and 1134 PLWH, respectively (mean age = ∼49 years, females: ∼28%). Larger increases in BMI and weight from pre-index to each post-index time point were observed in PLWH initiating BIC/FTC/TAF vs DRV/c/FTC/TAF (12 months: MD in BMI = 1.23 kg/m², p < .001; MD in weight = 2.84 kg [6.26 lbs], p = .008). PLWH receiving BIC/FTC/TAF were significantly more likely to experience weight gain ≥5% (HR = 1.76, p = .004) and ≥10% (HR = 2.01, p = .020), and BMI increase ≥5% (HR = 1.77, p = .004) and ≥10% (HR = 1.76, p = .044) than those receiving DRV/c/FTC/TAF.

CONCLUSIONS

BIC/FTC/TAF was associated with greater BMI and weight increases compared to DRV/c/FTC/TAF. Weight gain and its sequelae may add to the clinical burden of PLWH and should be considered among other factors when selecting antiretroviral single-tablet regimens.

A 10-year economic analysis of HIV management in Greece: evidence of efficient resource allocation

OBJECTIVE

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence has substantially increased over the years, leading to increased direct medical costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term cost of HIV care in Greece incurred over the last decade.

METHODS

In order to assess the long-term cost of HIV care, a cost analysis was undertaken for three discrete time points (which reflect major changes in the HIV treatment paradigm), incorporating the evolution of the cost of pharmaceuticals, hospitalization, primary care visits and diagnostic tests. The cost per life year gained (LYG) was also estimated.

RESULTS

Total cost of HIV care increased by 57% over the last decade (€53.7 million in 2010 vs €84.5 million in 2019), which can be mainly attributed to a 107% (5084 in 2010 vs. 10,523 in 2019) increase observed in the number of people living with HIV (PLWH) under care. As a result, the cost per person on treatment has decreased by 24.0% (€10,567 in 2010 vs €8032 in 2019). Lifetime cost was lower and life expectancy higher in 2019 compared to 2010, leading to a - €711 cost per LYG, suggesting that the current treatment paradigm produces better health outcomes at a lower cost compared to a decade ago, implying that resources are used in a more efficient way.

CONCLUSION

The paper presents some evidence towards the direction that HIV management in Greece can be considered efficient in both clinical and financial terms, as it offers measurable clinical outcomes at well-controlled, almost inelastic spending.

Financing and Delivering Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to End the HIV Epidemic

The U.S. has the tools to end the HIV epidemic, but progress has stagnated. A major gap in U.S. efforts to address HIV is the under-utilization of medications that can virtually eliminate acquisition of the virus, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This document proposes a financing and delivery system to unlock broad access to PrEP for those most vulnerable to HIV acquisition and bring an end to the HIV epidemic.

Assessing HIV Care Outcomes Among African-Born People Living with HIV in Seattle: An Analysis of the University of Washington Electronic Medical Record

To examine the relationship between African birth and HIV outcomes and comorbidities among individuals accessing care at the University of Washington. Patients who received a diagnosis of HIV at the University of Washington from 1995 to 2018 were identified. African-born patients were defined as those with recorded birthplace or primary language belonging to an African country. This cohort was compared to all non-African-born patients for initial CD4 count < 200 cells/mL, time from diagnosis to viral suppression, and prevalence of comorbid conditions. We identified 357 African-born and 3710 non-African-born patients. Over the time period, African-born patients were more likely to present with initial CD4 counts < 200 cells/mL (31% vs 19%, p < 0.01), but had shorter time to viral suppression (HR 1.31, [95% CI: 1.14-1.56]). African-born patients had higher rates of hepatitis B and tuberculosis (12% vs. 7% p < 0.01 and 13% vs. 3% p < 0.01). African-born patients living in the Seattle area have better HIV outcomes, but low initial CD4 counts suggest that they are presenting to care late. Increased efforts to engage this population in HIV, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis screening are warranted.

Costs and Consequences of Eliminating a Routine, Point-Of-Care HIV Screening Program in a High-Prevalence Jail

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to assess the public health impact of eliminating a longstanding routine HIV screening program and replacing it with targeted testing. In addition, costs, outcomes, and cost effectiveness of routine screening are compared with those of targeted testing in the Fulton County Jail, Atlanta, Georgia.

METHODS

A published mathematical model was used to assess the cost effectiveness and public health impact of routine screening (March 2013-February 2014) compared with those of targeted testing (January 2018-December 2018) from a health system perspective. Costs, outcomes, and other model inputs were derived from the testing programs and the published literature, and the cost effectiveness analysis was conducted from 2019 to 2020.

RESULTS

Routine screening identified 74 more new HIV infections over 1 year than targeted testing, resulting in an estimated 10 HIV transmissions averted and 45 quality-adjusted life-years saved, and was cost saving. The missed opportunity to diagnose infections because routine screening was eliminated resulted in an estimated 8.4 additional HIV transmissions and $3.7 million in additional costs to the healthcare system.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine HIV screening in high-prevalence jails is cost effective and has a larger impact on public health than targeted testing. Prioritizing sustained funding for routine, jail-based HIV screening programs in high-prevalence areas may be important to realizing the national HIV prevention goals.

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of dolutegravir/lamivudine for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection in the United States

BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir(DTG)/lamivudine(3TC) is the first 2-drug regimen recommended as an initial treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIV). OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness and potential budget impact of DTG/3TC in the US healthcare setting. METHODS: A previously published hybrid decision-tree and Markov cohort state transition model was adapted to estimate the incremental costs and health outcome benefits over a patients' lifetime. DTG/3TC was compared with current standard of care in treatment naive and treatment experienced virologically suppressed PLHIV. Health states included in the model were based upon virologic response and CD4 cell count, with death as an absorbing state. Clinical data was informed by the Phase III GEMINI 1 and 2 clinical trials, a published network meta-analysis (NMA) in treatment-naive patients and the Phase III TANGO clinical trial in treatment experienced patients. Costs and utilities were informed by published data and discounted annually at a rate of 3%. A separate 5-year budget impact analysis was conducted assuming 5%-15% uptake in eligible treatment naive and 10%-30% uptake in eligible treatment experienced patients. RESULTS: In the treatment naive analyses based on GEMINI 1 and 2, DTG/3TC dominated, i.e., was less costly and more effective, than all comparators. DTG/3TC resulted in 0.083 incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) at a cost saving of $199,166 compared with the DTG + tenofovir disoproxil(TDF)/emtricitabine(FTC) comparator arm. The incremental QALY and cost savings for DTG/3TC compared with DTG/abacavir(ABC)/3TC, cobicistat-boosted darunavir(DRV/c)/tenofovir alafenamide(TAF)/FTC, and bictegravir (BIC)/TAF/FTC, based on NMA results were 0.465, 0.142, and 0.698, and $42,948, $122,846, and $44,962, respectively. In the analyses of treatment-experienced virologically suppressed patients based on TANGO, DTG/3TC offered slightly lower QALYs (-0.037) with an estimated savings of $78,730 when compared with continuation of TAF-based regimen (TBR). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that these conclusions were relatively insensitive to alternative parameter estimates. The budget impact analysis estimated that by 5th year a total of 70,240 treatment naive patients and 1,340,480 treatment experienced patients could be eligible to be prescribed DTG/3TC. The estimated budget savings over 5 years ranged from $1.12b to $3.35b (corresponding to 27,512 to 82,536 on DTG/3TC by year 5) in the lowest and highest uptake scenarios, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, DTG/3TC with its comparable efficacy and lower drug acquisition costs, has the potential to offer significant cost savings to US healthcare payers for the initial treatment of treatment naive patients and as a treatment switching option for virologically suppressed patients. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded in full by ViiV healthcare, Brentford, UK. Medical writing to support this study was also funded in full by ViiV Healthcare, Brentford, UK. Butler, Hayward, and Jacob are employees of HEOR Ltd, the company performing this study funded by ViiV Healthcare. Anderson is an employee of GlaxoSmithKline and owns shares in the company. Punekar, Evitt, and Oglesby are employees of ViiV Healthcare and own stocks in GlaxoSmithKline.

Weight Change and Predictors of Weight Change Among Patients Initiated on Darunavir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide or Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide: A Real-World Retrospective Study

Background: Recent evidence suggests that integrase strand transfer inhibitors are associated with greater weight gain than protease inhibitors in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Objectives: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics of insured patients with HIV-1 in the United States initiating darunavir/​cobicistat/​emtricitabine/​tenofovir alafenamide (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) or bictegravir/FTC/TAF (BIC/FTC/TAF), assess the differences in weight and body mass index (BMI) change between cohorts up to one year after treatment initiation, and identify the predictors of weight gain associated with each treatment. Methods: The Symphony Health, IDV® database (July 17, 2017 - September 30, 2019) was used to identify treatment naïve or virologically suppressed stable switchers who initiated DRV/c/FTC/TAF or BIC/FTC/TAF (index date) on or after July 17, 2018, were ≥18 years of age on the index date, and had ≥12 months of continuous clinical activity pre-index (baseline period). To account for differences in baseline characteristics, inverse-probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used. Mean weight and BMI change from pre- to post-index measurements were compared between weighted cohorts at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-index using mean differences. Predictors of weight or BMI gain ≥5% were evaluated at last measurement, for each treatment cohort separately. Results: After IPTW, 452 and 497 patients were included in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF and BIC/FTC/TAF cohorts, respectively. Baseline characteristics were generally well-balanced (mean age=~50 years, female: ~30%), except for the type of antiretroviral therapy from which patients switched. Patients initiated on BIC/FTC/TAF experienced greater weight and BMI increases between the pre-index period and each measurement of the post-index period than patients initiated on DRV/c/FTC/TAF, although results were only statistically significant at 9 months post-index (weight: mean difference=2.50 kg, P=0.005; BMI: mean difference=0.66 kg/m2, P=0.027). A common predictor of weight or BMI gain ≥5% among patients in both cohorts was female gender (DRV/c/FTC/TAF: odds ratio [OR]=5.92, P=0.014; BIC/FTC/TAF: OR=2.00, P<0.001). Conclusion: Patients in the BIC/FTC/TAF cohort experienced greater weight and BMI increases than patients in the DRV/c/FTC/TAF cohort, with differences reaching statistical significance at 9 months post-index. Weight gain is an important factor to consider when selecting antiretroviral regimens, since it is associated with long-term health consequences. Future studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up time are warranted.

Retention in HIV care and factors associated with loss to follow-up in Oman: a countrywide study from the Middle East

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to determine the rate of retention in HIV care and the factors associated with loss to follow-up (LTFU) among Omani adults living with HIV who were linked to care as of 31 December 2019. Patients (n = 1610) were identified from a central national HIV surveillance dataset. The majority (68.3%) of patients were male, and the median age was 39 years (IQR, 31-48 years). A total of 1480 patient (91.9%) were retained in care. On multivariate analysis, compared to those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART), patients who had never been on ART were 6.8 (95% CI: 3.05-15.16) times more likely to be lost to follow-up. Patients who had a latest HIV viral load (VL) of 200-999 copies/ml (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.92, 95% CI: 2.27-10.69) and ≥ 1000 copies/ml (aOR: 15.03, 95% CI: 8.31-27.19) compared to those who had a latest HIV VL of <200 copies/ml had higher odds of loss to follow-up. Moreover, patients who were divorced or widowed were 2.64 (95% CI: 1.14-6.07) times more likely to disengage from HIV services, compared to those who were married. These findings will be invaluable in developing targeted interventions that further improve patients' retention in HIV care in Oman.

Evidence From a Multistate Cohort: Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Qualified Health Plans' Association With Viral Suppression

Background

Healthcare delivery changes associated with viral suppression (VS) could contribute to the United States’ “Ending the HIV Epidemic” (EtHE) initiative. This study aims to determine whether Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) purchased by AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) are associated with VS for low-income people living with HIV (PLWH) across 3 states.

Methods

A multistate cohort of ADAP clients eligible for ADAP-funded QHPs were studied (2014–2015). A log-binomial model was used to estimate the association of demographics and healthcare delivery factors with QHP enrollment prevalence and 1-year risk of VS. A number needed to treat/enroll (NNT) for 1 additional person to achieve viral suppression was calculated.

Results

Of the cohort (n = 7776), 52% enrolled in QHPs. QHP enrollment in 2015 was associated with QHP coverage in 2014 (adjusted PR [aPR], 3.28; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 3.06–3.53) and engagement in care in 2014 (aPR, 1.16; 1.04–1.28). PLWH who were engaged in care (n = 4597) and had QHPs had a higher VS rate than those who received medications from Direct ADAP (86.0% vs 80.2%). QHPs’ NNT for an additional person to achieve VS is 20 (14.1–34.5). Starting undetectable (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.39; 1.28–1.52) and enrolling in QHPs in 2015 (aRR, 1.06; 0.99–1.14) was associated with VS.

Conclusions

Once enrolled in ADAP-funded QHPs, ADAP clients stay enrolled. Enrollment is associated with VS across states/demographic groups. ADAPs, especially in the South and in Medicaid nonexpansion states, should consider investing in QHPs because increased enrollment could improve VS rates. This evidence-based intervention could be part of EtHE.

Estimated Lifetime HIV-Related Medical Costs in the United States

BACKGROUND

Lifetime cost estimates are a useful tool in measuring the economic burden of HIV in the United States. Previous estimation methods need to be updated, given improving antiretroviral therapy regimens and updated costs.

METHODS

We used an updated version of the agent-based model progression and transmission of HIV (PATH) 3.0 to reflect current regimens and costs. We simulated a cohort of those infected in 2015 until the last person had died to track the lifetime costs for treatment of HIV, including HIV health care utilization costs (inpatient, outpatient, opportunistic infection prophylaxis, non-HIV medication, and emergency department), opportunistic infection treatment costs, and testing costs. We assumed a median per-person diagnosis delay of 3 years and a 3% base monthly probability of dropout from care for a base-case scenario. Additionally, we modeled a most favorable scenario (median diagnosis delay of 1 year and 1% base dropout rate) and a least favorable scenario (median diagnosis delay of 5 years and 5% base dropout rate).

RESULTS

We estimated an average lifetime HIV-related medical cost for a person with HIV of $420,285 (2019 US$) discounted (3%) and $1,079,999 undiscounted for a median 3-year diagnosis delay and 3% base dropout rate. Our discounted cost estimate was $490,045 in our most favorable scenario and $326,411 in our least favorable scenario.

CONCLUSIONS

Lifetime per-person HIV-related medical costs depend on the time from infection to diagnosis and the likelihood of dropping out of care. Our results, which are similar to previous studies, reflect updated antiretroviral therapy regimens and costs for HIV treatment.

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of the Patient-Centered HIV Care Model: A Collaboration Between Community-Based Pharmacists and Primary Medical Providers

BACKGROUND

The patient-centered HIV care model (PCHCM) is an evidence-informed structural intervention that integrates community-based pharmacists with primary medical providers to improve rates of HIV viral suppression. This report assesses the costs and cost-effectiveness of the PCHCM.

SETTING

Patient-centered HIV care model.

METHODS

Three project sites, each composed of a medical clinic and 1 or 2 community-based HIV-specialized pharmacies, were included in the analyses. PCHCM required patient data sharing between medical providers and pharmacists and collaborative therapy-related decision making. Intervention effectiveness was measured as the incremental number of patients virally suppressed (HIV RNA <200 copies/mL at the last test in a 12-month measurement period). Microcosting direct measurement methods were used to estimate intervention costs. The cost per patient, cost per patient visit, and incremental cost per patient virally suppressed were calculated from the health care providers' perspective. Additionally, the number of HIV transmissions averted, lifetime HIV treatment cost saved, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) saved, and cost per QALY saved were calculated from the societal perspective, using standard methods and reported values from the published literature.

RESULTS

Overall, the PCHCM annual intervention cost for the 3 project sites was $226,741. The average cost per patient, cost per patient visit, and incremental cost per patient virally suppressed were $813, $48, and $5,039, respectively. The intervention averted 2.75 HIV transmissions and saved 12.22 QALYs and nearly $1.28 million in lifetime HIV treatment costs. The intervention was cost saving overall and at each project site.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCHCM can be delivered at a relatively low cost and is a cost-saving intervention to assist patients in achieving viral suppression and preventing HIV transmission.

2021 European guideline on HIV testing in genito-urinary medicine settings

Testing for HIV is critical for early diagnosis of HIV infection, providing long-term good health for the individual and prevention of onward transmission if antiretroviral treatment is initiated early. The main purpose of the 2021 European Guideline on HIV Testing in Genito-Urinary Settings is to provide advice on testing for HIV infection in individuals aged 16 years and older who present to sexually transmitted infection, genito-urinary or dermato-venereology clinics across Europe. The guideline presents the details of best practice and offers practical guidance to clinicians and laboratories to identify and offer HIV testing to appropriate patient groups.

Cost-Effectiveness of HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program?

BACKGROUND

With an annual budget of more than $2 billion, the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is the third largest source of public funding for HIV care and treatment in the United States, yet little analysis has been done to quantify the long-term public health and economic impacts of the federal program.

METHODS

Using an agent-based, stochastic model, we estimated health care costs and outcomes over a 50-year period in the presence of the RWHAP relative to those expected to prevail if the comprehensive and integrated system of medical and support services funded by the RWHAP were not available. We made a conservative assumption that, in the absence of the RWHAP, only uninsured clients would lose access to these medical and support services.

RESULTS

The model predicts that the proportion of people with HIV who are virally suppressed would be 25.2 percentage points higher in the presence of the RWHAP (82.6 percent versus 57.4 percent without the RWHAP). The number of new HIV infections would be 18 percent (190,197) lower, the number of deaths among people with HIV would be 31 percent (267,886) lower, the number of quality-adjusted life years would be 2.7 percent (5.6 million) higher, and the cumulative health care costs would be 25 percent ($165 billion) higher in the presence of the RWHAP relative to the counterfactual. Based on these results, the RWHAP has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $29,573 per quality-adjusted life year gained compared with the non-RWHAP scenario. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the probability of transmitting HIV via male-to-male sexual contact and the cost of antiretroviral medications have the largest effect on the cost-effectiveness of the program.

CONCLUSIONS

The RWHAP would be considered very cost-effective when using standard guidelines of less than the per capita gross domestic product of the United States. The results suggest that the RWHAP plays a critical and cost-effective role in the United States' public health response to the HIV epidemic.

Development of a Mathematical Model to Estimate the Cost-Effectiveness of HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

BACKGROUND

The Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides services to more than half of all people diagnosed with HIV in the United States. We present and validate a mathematical model that can be used to estimate the long-term public health and cost impact of the federal program.

METHODS

We developed a stochastic, agent-based model that reflects the current HIV epidemic in the United States. The model simulates everyone's progression along the HIV care continuum, using 2 network-based mechanisms for HIV transmission: injection drug use and sexual contact. To test the validity of the model, we calculated HIV incidence, mortality, life expectancy, and lifetime care costs and compared the results with external benchmarks.

RESULTS

The estimated HIV incidence rate for men who have sex with men (502 per 100,000 person years), mortality rate of all people diagnosed with HIV (1663 per 100,000 person years), average life expectancy for individuals with low CD4 counts not on antiretroviral therapy (1.52-3.78 years), and lifetime costs ($362,385) all met our validity criterion of within 15% of external benchmarks.

CONCLUSIONS

The model represents a complex HIV care delivery system rather than a single intervention, which required developing solutions to several challenges, such as calculating need for and receipt of multiple services and estimating their impact on care retention and viral suppression. Our strategies to address these methodological challenges produced a valid model for assessing the cost-effectiveness of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Participants of the Patient-centered Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Model Project: A Collaboration Between Community-based Pharmacists and HIV Clinical Providers

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral suppression (VS) decreases morbidity, mortality, and transmission risk.

METHODS

The Patient-centered HIV Care Model integrated community-based pharmacists with HIV medical providers and required them to share patient clinical information, identify therapy-related problems, and develop therapy-related action plans.Proportions adherent to antiretroviral therapy (proportion of days covered [PDC] ≥90%) and virally suppressed (HIV RNA <200 copies/mL), before and after model implementation, were compared. Factors associated with postimplementation VS were determined using multivariable logistic regression; participant demographics, baseline viral load, and PDC were explanatory variables. PDC was modified to account for time to last viral load in the year postimplementation, and stratified as <50%, 50% to <80%, 80% to <90%, and ≥90%.

RESULTS

The 765 enrolled participants were 43% non-Hispanic black, 73% male, with a median age of 48 years; 421 and 649 were included in the adherence and VS analyses, respectively. Overall, proportions adherent to therapy remained unchanged. However, VS improved a relative 15% (75% to 86%, P < .001). Higher PDC (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.74 per 1-level increase in PDC category [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.30-2.34]) and baseline VS (AOR, 7.69 [95% CI, 3.96-15.7]) were associated with postimplementation VS. Although non-Hispanic black persons (AOR, 0.29 [95% CI, .12-.62]) had lower odds of suppression, VS improved a relative 23% (63% to 78%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated care models between community-based pharmacists and primary medical providers may identify and address HIV therapy-related problems and improve VS among persons with HIV.

Medicaid Expansion's Impact on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outcomes in a Nonurban Southeastern Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinic

Background

Although the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program supports high-quality human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, Medicaid enrollment provides access to non-HIV care. People with HIV (PWH) with Medicaid historically have low viral suppression (VS) rates. In a state with previously high Qualified Health Plan coverage of PWH, we examined HIV outcomes by insurance status during the first year of Medicaid expansion (ME).

Methods

Participants were PWH ages 18–63 who attended ≥1 HIV medical visit/year in 2018 and 2019. We estimated associations of sociodemographic characteristics with ME enrollment prevalence and associations between insurance status and engagement in care and VS.

Results

Among 577 patients, 151 (33%) were newly eligible for Medicaid, and 77 (51%) enrolled. Medicaid enrollment was higher for those with incomes <100% federal poverty level (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.86) compared with others. Controlling for age, income, and 2018 engagement, those with employment-based private insurance (adjusted risk difference [aRD], −8.5%; 95% CI, −16.9 to 0.1) and Medicare (aRD, −12.5%; 95% CI, −21.2 to −3.0) had lower 2019 engagement than others. For those with VS data (n = 548), after controlling for age and baseline VS, those with Medicaid (aRD, −4.0%; 95% CI, −10.3 to 0.3) and with Medicaid due to ME (aRD, −6.2%; 95% CI, −14.1 to −0.8) were less likely to achieve VS compared with others.

Conclusions

Given that PWH who newly enrolled in Medicaid had high engagement in care, the finding of lower VS is notable. The discordance may be due to medication access gaps associated with changes in medication procurement logistics.

Journeys to HIV testing and diagnosis among adults aged 50+ years in England: A qualitative interview study

Objectives

In England, older adults (aged ≥50 years) are at greater risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage HIV infection than younger adults. We explored journeys to testing and diagnosis among older adults, examining factors associated with late HIV diagnosis in this age group.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with 12 adults diagnosed with HIV at age 50+ years and 12 health care professionals working in sexual health/HIV services. Data were analysed thematically, using the Model of Pathways to Treatment as a framework for analysis.

Results

Older adults were often found to experience non-linear and complex diagnostic journeys. Pathways to diagnosis were affected by 6 factors: (i) the non-specific nature of HIV symptoms and their misattribution as being age-related; (ii) symptom severity, impact, and visibility; (iii) HIV health literacy; (iv) perceptions of HIV risk; (v) geographical location; and (vi) assessment in non-specialist settings.

Conclusions

Older adults appear to encounter additional barriers to HIV testing compared with younger people, particularly when they are not part of a group targeted in HIV prevention and testing campaigns. To diagnose HIV more promptly in adults aged 50+ years, HIV knowledge and risk perception must increase in both older people and health care professionals. Health care professionals need to look beyond the ‘high risk’ groups that are most affected by HIV and consider HIV more readily in the diagnostic process.

Optimal Allocation of Societal HIV Prevention Resources to Reduce HIV Incidence in the United States

Objectives. To optimize combined public and private spending on HIV prevention to achieve maximum reductions in incidence.Methods. We used a national HIV model to estimate new infections from 2018 to 2027 in the United States. We estimated current spending on HIV screening, interventions that move persons with diagnosed HIV along the HIV care continuum, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and syringe services programs. We compared the current funding allocation with 2 optimal scenarios: (1) a limited-reach scenario with expanded efforts to serve eligible persons and (2) an ideal, unlimited-reach scenario in which all eligible persons could be served.Results. A continuation of the current allocation projects 331 000 new HIV cases over the next 10 years. The limited-reach scenario reduces that number by 69%, and the unlimited reach scenario by 94%. The most efficient funding allocations resulted in prompt diagnosis and sustained viral suppression through improved screening of high-risk persons and treatment adherence support for those infected.Conclusions. Optimal allocations of public and private funds for HIV prevention can achieve substantial reductions in new infections. Achieving reductions of more than 90% under current funding will require that virtually all infected receive sustained treatment.

Assisters Succeed in Insurance Navigation for People Living with HIV and People at Increased Risk of HIV in a Complex Coverage Landscape

Insurance enrollment is complex for people living with HIV (PLWH) and people at increased risk for HIV, in part, owing to needing to ensure access to adequate provider networks and appropriate formularies. Insurance for PLWH facilitates access to HIV care/treatment and, ultimately, viral suppression, which has the individual benefit of longevity and the public health benefit of decreased HIV transmission. For people at increased risk for HIV, access to insurance facilitates improved access to HIV biomedical prevention, which has the individual benefit of elimination of transmission risk and the public health benefit of decreased HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of priorities related to plan navigation, barriers and facilitators for enrolling and maintaining insurance coverage, and questions related to regional, state, and federal policies impacting plans provided both on and off the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. We interviewed a national sample of assisters (n = 40), who specialize in insurance plan selection for these populations. We found that assisters tailor their approaches to HIV-specific and person-specific concerns by navigating challenges related to affordability, formularies, and provider networks. In a complex coverage landscape during a time of uncertainty about the long-term future of the ACA, assisters have mastered the ability to simplify the insurance selection process for a vulnerable population. Assisters have excelled at incorporating insurance literacy education and encouraging client engagement in the process. Assisters play an essential role in the current complicated and fragmented United States' health care delivery system for PLWH and people at increased risk for HIV and could be incorporated into the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.

California's Prisoner Protections for Family and Community Health Act : Implementing a Mandated Condom Access Program in State Prisons, 2015-2016

In 2014, California passed Assembly Bill 966, which required condom access for persons incarcerated in all 35 California state prisons (33 men's and 2 women's prisons). The California Correctional Health Care Services and the Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Branch and the Office of AIDS of the California Department of Public Health collaborated in a prison administration-led multidisciplinary implementation workgroup. Our workgroup, representing public health, correctional health, legal and legislative affairs, labor relations, and prison staff members, participated in 4 planning meetings during May-September 2015. We surveyed prison staff members and incarcerated men to identify and address potential challenges; conceptualized a tamper-resistant condom dispenser; developed educational materials, frequently asked questions for staff members, and fact sheets for the public; and conducted forums for custody and medical staff members at each prison. Key lessons learned included the need for high-level custody support, engagement of labor unions early in the decision-making process, and flexibility within defined parameters for sites to determine best practices given their unique institutional population, culture, and physical layout. Condom access was initiated at 4 prisons in July 2015 and expanded incrementally to the remaining 29 men's prisons through July 2016. A total of 243 563 condoms were accessed in the men's prisons, for an average of 354 condoms per 1000 population per month. The start-up dispenser cost was $69 825 (735 dispensers at $95 each). We estimated an annual condom cost of $0.60 per person. Although staff members and incarcerated men expressed concern that this legislation would condone sex and provide repositories for contraband, no serious adverse incidents involving condoms were reported. California demonstrated that condom access is a safe, low-cost intervention with high uptake for a large correctional system and provided a replicable implementation model for other states. Prison condom programs have the potential to decrease transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among incarcerated persons and their communities, which are often disproportionately affected by STIs, HIV, and other chronic diseases.

Roles for Pharmacists in the "Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America" Initiative

In 2019, President Trump announced a new initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE). EHE will use 3 key strategies-diagnose, treat, and prevent-to reduce new HIV infections at least 90% by 2030, as well as new laboratory methods and epidemiological techniques to respond quickly to potential outbreaks. Partnerships are an important component in the initiative's success. Pharmacists and pharmacies can play important roles in EHE, including dispensing antiretroviral therapy and providing HIV screening, adherence counseling, medication therapy management, preexposure prophylaxis, and nonprescription syringe sales. The objective of this report is to discuss potential roles that pharmacists and pharmacies can play under the key strategies of EHE.

An assessment of weight change associated with the initiation of a protease or integrase strand transfer inhibitor in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

OBJECTIVE

Evidence suggests that integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with greater weight gain than other antiretrovirals. This real-world study compares weight/body mass index (BMI) change between insured US patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) initiating a protease inhibitor (PI) or INSTI.

METHODS

A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using Decision Resources Group's Real World Data Repository (7/17/2017-6/1/2019). Adult patients with HIV-1 who initiated a new PI or INSTI on or after 7/17/2018 (index date) and had ≥12 months of continuous pre-index clinical activity were included. Baseline characteristics were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting. The proportion of patients with ≥5% weight/BMI increases and mean weight/BMI change from pre- to post-index were compared using odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs).

RESULTS

20,367 patients (9993 PI, 10,374 INSTI) were included (mean age = 50 years; ∼30% females). Pre- and post-index weight and BMI measurements were available in 429 and 430 PI patients, and 397 and 383 INSTI patients, respectively (mean time between index and post-index measurements: ∼7 months). The PI cohort was 39%/49% less likely to experience ≥5% weight/BMI increase than the INSTI cohort, respectively (OR [≥5% weight gain] = 0.61; p = .014; OR [≥5% BMI gain] = 0.51; p < .001). Mean weight/BMI gain was significantly lower in the PI cohort than the INSTI cohort (weight MD = -1.90 kg [-4.19 lbs], BMI MD = -0.61kg/m²; both p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to INSTI, patients initiating a new PI were less likely to experience ≥5% weight/BMI gain post-index. Additionally, mean weight/BMI gain was lower in the PI than in the INSTI cohort.

A mathematical model to estimate the state-specific impact of the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

BACKGROUND

Access to and engagement in high-quality HIV medical care and treatment is essential for ending the HIV epidemic. The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) plays a critical role in ensuring that people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) are linked to and consistently engaged in high quality care and receive HIV medication in a timely manner. State variation in HIV prevalence, the proportion of PLWH served by the RWHAP, and local health care environments could influence the state-specific impact of the RWHAP. This analysis sought to measure the state-specific impact of the RWHAP on the HIV service delivery system and health outcomes for PLWH, and presents template language to communicate this impact for state planning and stakeholder engagement.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

The HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (CDC DHAP) have developed a mathematical model to estimate the state-specific impact of the RWHAP. This model was parameterized using RWHAP data, HIV surveillance data, an existing CDC model of HIV transmission and disease progression, and parameters from the literature. In this study, the model was used to analyze the hypothetical scenario of an absence of the RWHAP and to calculate the projected impact of this scenario on RWHAP clients, RWHAP-funded providers, mortality, new HIV cases, and costs compared with the current state inclusive of the RWHAP. To demonstrate the results of the model, we selected two states, representing high HIV prevalence and low HIV prevalence areas. These states serve to demonstrate the functionality of the model and how state-specific results can be translated into a state-specific impact statement using template language.

CONCLUSIONS

In the example states presented, the RWHAP provides HIV care, treatment, and support services to a large proportion of PLWH in each state. The absence of the RWHAP in these states could result in substantially more deaths and HIV cases than currently observed, resulting in considerable lifetime HIV care and treatment costs associated with additional HIV cases. State-specific impact statements may be valuable in the development of state-level HIV prevention and care plans or for communications with planning bodies, state health department leadership, and other stakeholders. State-specific impact statements will be available to RWHAP Part B recipients upon request from HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau.

Regional Disparities in Qualified Health Plans' Prior Authorization Requirements for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in the United States

IMPORTANCE

With the goal of ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is essential to help curb new HIV infections. There has been differential uptake of PrEP by region, with the South lagging behind other regions. Discriminatory benefit design (benefit design that prevents or delays people with complex or expensive conditions from obtaining appropriate treatment) through prior authorization requirements could be a systemic barrier that contributes to the decreased PrEP uptake in the South.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether there are regional disparities in prior authorization requirements for combined tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine for qualified health plans (QHPs) and to assess whether any QHP characteristics explain the disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This design was a cross-sectional study of QHPs offered in the 2019 Affordable Care Act Marketplace. The QHPs studied included all Affordable Care Act-compliant individual and small-group market plans in the United States.

EXPOSURES

The primary exposure was the 4 census regions (Northeast, West, Midwest, and South). Additional covariates included other plan characteristics.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Prior authorization requirement for combined tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine at the QHP level.

RESULTS

In total, 16 853 QHPs were analyzed (18.2% in the Northeast, 19.5% in the West, 25.0% in the Midwest, and 37.3% in the South). Overall, 18.9% of QHPs required prior authorization for combined tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine. This percentage varied by region, with 2.3%, 6.2%, 13.3%, and 37.3% of plans requiring prior authorization in the Northeast, West, Midwest, and South, respectively. Compared with QHPs in the Northeast, QHPs in the South were 15.89 (95% CI, 12.57-20.09) times as likely to require prior authorization, whereas the Midwest and West were 5.69 (95% CI, 4.45-7.27) and 2.65 (95% CI, 2.02-3.47) times as likely, respectively. Other plan characteristics did not account for the regional variation.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Compared with QHPs in the Northeast, QHPs in the South were almost 16 times as likely to require prior authorization for PrEP, and the reasons for these disparities are unknown. The prior authorization requirement is a possible barrier to PrEP access in the South, which is the region of the United States with the most annual new HIV diagnoses. There is limited regulation of QHPs' prior authorization requirements. Federal- or state-level health policy laws may be necessary to remove this system-level barrier to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Using information on ART costs and benefits to mobilise resources - comparing different methods and contexts

Sustaining HIV and AIDS responses depends on a mix of donor, government and private funders. Their decisions about investing in HIV treatment may be informed by various types of economic evaluations, which may be more or less useful for different contexts. This paper benchmarks methods against each other. Epidemiological and demographic impacts of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 1996-2015 were quantified using country- specific spectrum files. The study compared societal benefits of ART using the full income (FI) methodology with "conventional" benefit, utility and effectiveness estimates produced with the same data. The FI estimates suggested $3.50 in benefits per dollar spent on ART globally, 2.6 times larger than productivity-related measures of benefits, of $1.33 in benefits per dollar. Higher benefit-cost ratios are mainly because FI reflects value of life beyond what people produce at work and in non-working age groups, and allocates the future stream of benefits in the year that death is avoided. ART costs were 0.78 times per capita GDP per quality-adjusted life-years gained globally. FI benefit-cost ratios are considerably higher in upper- and lower-middle-income countries than in low- or high-income countries. Productivity-based benefits also exceeded costs in all but one region but had smaller ratios and different regional patterns. Per capita GDP per quality-adjusted life-years ratios were below 1.2 for all regions and country income bands, suggesting cost effectiveness. The fact that FI returns of ART are higher than productivity returns, helps to quantify developmental benefits of interventions that directly extend life and its quality, arguably the objective of development. They provide an important argument to increase budget allocations to health sectors for ART scale-up, and not just reallocate existing health resources. Benchmarking FI returns against cost per quality- adjusted life-years may allow comparison to other "cost effective" health interventions. However, caution should be taken in extrapolations between measures, because they produce different rankings across country categories.

Estimating HIV Management and Comorbidity Costs Among Aging HIV Patients in the United States: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

As life expectancy of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) approaches that of the general population, the composition of HIV management costs is likely to change.

OBJECTIVES

To (a) review treatment and disease management costs in HIV, including costs of adverse events (AEs) related to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and long-term toxicities, and (b) explore the evolving cost drivers.

METHODS

A targeted literature review between January 2012 and November 2017 was conducted using PubMed and major conferences. Articles reporting U.S. costs of HIV management, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining events, end of life care, and ART-associated comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and osteoporosis were included. All costs were inflated to 2017 U.S. dollars. A Markov model-based analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of increased life expectancy on costs associated with HIV treatment and management.

RESULTS

22 studies describing HIV costs in the United States were identified, comprising 16 cost-effectiveness analysis studies, 5 retrospective analyses of health care utilization, and 1 cost analysis in a resource-limited setting. Management costs per patient per month, including routine care costs (on/off ART), non-HIV medication, opportunistic infection prophylaxis, inpatient utilization, outpatient utilization, and emergency department utilization were reported as CD4+ cell-based health state costs ranging from $1,192 for patients with CD4 > 500 cells/mm3 to $2,873 for patients with CD4 < 50 cells/mm3. Event costs for AEs ranged from $0 for headache, pain, vomiting, and lipodystrophy to $31,545 for myocardial infarction. The mean monthly per-patient costs for CVD management, CKD management, and osteoporosis were $5,898, $6,108, and $4,365, respectively. Improvements in life expectancy, approaching that of the general population in 2018, are projected to increase ART-related and AE costs by 35.4% and comorbidity costs by 175.8% compared with estimated costs with HIV life expectancy observed in 1996.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified and summarized holistic cost estimates appropriate for use within U.S. HIV cost-effectiveness analyses and demonstrates an increasing contribution of comorbidity outcomes, primarily associated with aging in addition to long-term treatment with ART, not typically evaluated in contemporary HIV cost-effectiveness analyses.

DISCLOSURES

This analysis was sponsored by ViiV Healthcare, which had no role in the analyses and interpretation of study results. Ward, Sugrue, Hayward, and McEwan are employees of HEOR Ltd, which received funding from ViiV Healthcare to conduct this study. Anderson is an employee of GlaxoSmithKline and holds shares in the company. Punekar and Oglesby are employees of ViiV Healthcare and hold shares in GlaxoSmithKline. Lopes was employed by ViiV Healthcare at the time of the study and holds shares in GlaxoSmithKline.

Rapid Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Following Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Patients with Commercial Insurance Coverage

BACKGROUND

New guidelines for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) advocate for rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≤ 7 days after HIV diagnosis with agents that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, good tolerability, and convenient dosing.

OBJECTIVE

To describe characteristics, time to ART initiation, and health care costs in commercially insured patients living with HIV in the United States who are treated ≤ 60 days after HIV diagnosis.

METHODS

IBM MarketScan Research Databases (January 1, 2012-December 31, 2017) were used to identify ART-naive adults with HIV-1, ≥ 6 months of continuous eligibility before first HIV diagnosis, and ART initiation ≤ 60 days of first diagnosis. ART regimen had to include a protease inhibitor (PI), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with ≥ 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Cohorts were formed based on time to ART initiation after diagnosis: ≤ 7 days or 8-60 days. Health care costs were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after diagnosis among patients with ≥ 36 months of continuous eligibility.

RESULTS

Among 9,351 patients, median time to treatment was 31.0 days. Patients initiating ART > 60 days after HIV diagnosis were excluded (N = 2,608 [27.9%]), while 6,743 (72.1%) initiated ART ≤ 60 days after diagnosis and were analyzed; 18.3% and 81.7% were classified in the ≤ 7 days and 8-60 days cohorts, respectively. For all analyzed patients, mean age was 38.0 (SD = 12.0) years and 13.2% were female; 12.7%, 56.2%, and 31.1% initiated a PI, INSTI, or NNRTI-based regimen, respectively. Elvitegravir (32.9%), efavirenz (20.9%), dolutegravir (18.5%), and darunavir (8.5%) were the most commonly used antiretrovirals; most patients (74.3%) were initiated on single-tablet regimens. PI-based regimens were more common in the ≤ 7 days cohort (PI = 18.1%; darunavir = 11.4%) than in the 8-60 days cohort (PI = 11.5%; darunavir = 7.8%). INSTI-based regimens were more common in the 8-60 days cohort (INSTI = 57.7%; elvitegravir = 33.8%) than in the ≤ 7 days cohort (INSTI = 49.2%; elvitegravir = 29.1%). NNRTI-based regimens were as common in the ≤ 7 days (32.7%) and 8-60 days (30.7%) cohorts. Mean total accumulated costs were lower among patients in the ≤ 7 days cohort than in the 8-60 days cohort at all time points analyzed after diagnosis (e.g., 36 months: ≤ 7 days = $109,456; 8-60 days = $116,870). Total per-patient per-month costs decreased over time in the ≤ 7 days (i.e., 6 months = $4,359; 36 months = $3,040) and 8-60 days cohort (6 months = $4,727; 36 months = $3,246).

CONCLUSIONS

Although 72.1% of patients initiated ART ≤ 60 days after HIV diagnosis, only 18.3% initiated ART ≤ 7 days. Many patients initiating ART ≤ 7 days used suboptimal agents with low rather than high genetic barriers to resistance (i.e., efavirenz and elvitegravir) or agents (dolutegravir) coformulated with other antiretrovirals that require testing to prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Patients in the ≤ 7 days cohort showed lower total health care costs relative to those in the 8-60 days cohort, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of rapid ART initiation.

DISCLOSURES

This study was supported by Janssen Scientific Affairs, which was involved in the study design, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, and publication decisions. Emond, Lefebvre, Lafeuille, and Côté-Sergent are employees of Analysis Group, a consulting company that was contracted by Janssen Scientific Affairs to conduct this study and develop the manuscript. Benson, Tandon, Chow, and Dunn are employees of Janssen Scientific Affairs and stockholders of Johnson & Johnson. Part of the material in this study has been presented at the AMCP 2019 Annual Meeting; March 25-28, 2019; San Diego, CA.

Estimating the costs and cost-effectiveness of HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men, United States

INTRODUCTION

HIV testing is an essential prerequisite for accessing treatment with antiretroviral therapy or prevention using pre-exposure prophylaxis. Internet distribution of HIV self-tests is a novel approach, and data on the programmatic cost of this approach are limited. We analyse the costs and cost-effectiveness of a self-testing programme.

METHODS

Men who have sex with men (MSM) reporting unknown or negative HIV status were enrolled from March to August 2015 into a 12-month trial of HIV self-testing in the United States. Participants were randomly assigned either to the self-testing arm or the control arm. All participants received information on HIV testing services and locations in their community. Self-testing participants received up to four self-tests each quarter, which they could use themselves or distribute to their social network associates. Quarterly follow-up surveys collected testing outcomes, including number of tests used and new HIV diagnoses. Using trial expenditure data, we estimated the cost of implementing a self-testing programme. Primary outcomes of this analysis included total programme implementation costs, cost per self-test completed, cost per person tested, cost per new HIV diagnosis among those self-tested and cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) saved.

RESULTS

A total of 2665 men were assigned either to the self-testing arm (n = 1325) or the control arm (n = 1340). HIV testing was reported by 971 self-testing participants who completed a total of 5368 tests. In the control arm, 619 participants completed 1463 HIV tests. The self-testing participants additionally distributed 2864 self-tests to 2152 social network associates. Testing during the trial identified 59 participants and social network associates with newly diagnosed HIV infection in the self-testing arm; 11 control participants were newly diagnosed with HIV. The implementation cost of the HIV self-testing programme was $449,510. The cost per self-test completed, cost per person tested at least once, and incremental cost per new HIV diagnosis was $61, $145 and $9365 respectively. We estimated that self-testing programme potentially averted 3.34 transmissions, saved 14.86 QALYs and nearly $1.6 million lifetime HIV treatment costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The HIV self-testing programme identified persons with newly diagnosed HIV infection at low cost, and the programme is cost saving.

Cost-Effectiveness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Adolescent Sexual Minority Males

PURPOSE

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been proven safe and effective in preventing HIV among adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM), but the cost-effectiveness of PrEP in ASMM remains unknown. Building on a recent epidemiological network modeling study of PrEP among ASMM, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of PrEP use in a high prevalence U.S. setting with significant disparities in HIV between black and white ASMM.

METHODS

Based on the estimated number of infections averted and the number of ASMM on PrEP from the previous model and published estimates of PrEP costs, HIV treatment costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained per infection prevented, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of PrEP use in black and white ASMM over 10 years using a societal perspective and lifetime horizon. Effectiveness was measured as lifetime QALYs gained. Cost estimates included 10-year PrEP costs and lifetime HIV treatment costs saved. Cost-effectiveness was measured as cost/QALY gained. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed on key model input parameters and assumptions used.

RESULTS

Under base-case assumptions, PrEP use yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $33,064 per QALY in black ASMM and $427,788 per QALY in white ASMM. In all sensitivity analyses, the cost-effectiveness ratio of PrEP use remained <$100,000 per QALY in black ASMM and >$100,000 per QALY in white ASMM.

CONCLUSIONS

We found favorable cost-effectiveness ratios for PrEP use among black ASMM or other ASMM in communities with high HIV burden at current PrEP costs. Clinicians providing services in high-prevalence communities, and particularly those serving high-prevalence communities of color, should consider including PrEP services.

Implementation of an Immediate HIV Treatment Initiation Program in a Public/Academic Medical Center in the U.S. South: The Miami Test and Treat Rapid Response Program

Test and Rapid Response Treatment (TRRT) linkage programs have demonstrated improved HIV suppression rates. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Miami TRRT initiative and its clinical impact. Assisted by a dedicated care navigator, patients receiving a reactive HIV rapid test at the Florida Department of Health STD Clinic were offered same-day HIV care at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center Adult HIV Outpatient Clinic. Patient retention and labs were tracked for 12 months. Of the 2337 individuals tested, 46 had a reactive HIV test; 41 (89%) consented to participate. For the 36 patients in continued care for a year, 33 (91.7%) achieved virological suppression (< 200 copies/mL) within 70 days of their reactive HIV rapid test; at 12 months, 35 (97.2%) remained suppressed, and mean CD4 T cell counts increased from 452 ± 266 to 597 ± 322 cells/mm³. The Miami TRRT initiative demonstrated that immediate linkage to care is feasible and improves retention and suppression in a public/academic medical center in the U.S. South.