Increased targeted HIV testing and reduced undiagnosed HIV infections among gay and bisexual men

Molecular epidemiology to aid virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia

The Global UNAIDS 95/95/95 targets aim to increase the percentage of persons who know their HIV status, receive antiretroviral therapy, and have achieved viral suppression. Achieving these targets requires efforts to improve the public health response to increase access to care for those living with HIV, identify those yet undiagnosed with HIV early, and increase access to prevention for those most at risk of HIV acquisition. HIV infections in Australia are among the lowest globally having recorded significant declines in new diagnoses in the last decade. However, the HIV epidemic has changed with an increasing proportion of newly diagnosed infections among those born outside Australia observed in the last five years. Thus, the current prevention efforts are not enough to achieve the UNAIDS targets and virtual elimination across all population groups. We believe both are possible by including molecular epidemiology in the public health response. Molecular epidemiology methods have been crucial in the field of HIV prevention, particularly in demonstrating the efficacy of treatment as prevention. Cluster detection using molecular epidemiology can provide opportunities for the real-time detection of new outbreaks before they grow, and cluster detection programs are now part of the public health response in the USA and Canada. Here, we review what molecular epidemiology has taught us about HIV evolution and spread. We summarize how we can use this knowledge to improve public health measures by presenting case studies from the USA and Canada. We discuss the successes and challenges of current public health programs in Australia, and how we could use cluster detection as an add-on to identify gaps in current prevention measures easier and respond quicker to growing clusters. Lastly, we raise important ethical and legal challenges that need to be addressed when HIV genotypic data is used in combination with personal data.

Optimising HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and testing strategies in men who have sex with men in Australia, Thailand, and China: a modelling study and cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Asia-Pacific region have a disproportionately high burden of HIV infection compared with the general population. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is highly effective at preventing new HIV infections, the cost-effectiveness of PrEP for MSM in different countries in the Asia-Pacific region with varying PrEP coverage and HIV testing frequencies remains unstudied. We aimed to analyse the economic and health benefits of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) compared with oral PrEP in high-income countries and low-income and middle-income countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

METHODS

We developed a decision-analytic Markov model to evaluate the population impact and cost-effectiveness of PrEP scale-up among MSM in Australia, Thailand, and China. We assumed a static cohort of 100 000 MSM aged 18 years or older who were at risk of HIV infection, with a monthly cycle length over a 40-year time period. We evaluated hypothetical scenarios with universal PrEP coverage of 80% among 100 000 suitable MSM in each country. We modelled oral PrEP and CAB-LA for MSM with diverse HIV testing frequency strategies. We adopted the health-care system's perspective with a 3% annual discount rate. We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), measured as additional cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained, to compare different strategies with the status quo in each country. All costs were reported in 2021 US$. We also performed one-way, two-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our findings.

FINDINGS

Compared with the status quo in each country, expanding oral PrEP to 80% of suitable MSM would avert 8·1% of new HIV infections in Australia, 14·5% in Thailand, and 26·4% in China in a 40-year period. Expanding oral PrEP use with 6-monthly HIV testing for both PrEP and non-PrEP users was cost-saving for Australia. Similarly, expanding oral PrEP use remained the most cost-effective strategy in both Thailand and China, but optimal testing frequency varied, with annual testing in Thailand (ICER $4707 per QALY gained) and 3-monthly testing in China (ICER $16 926 per QALY gained) for both PrEP and non-PrEP users. We also found that replacing oral PrEP with CAB-LA for MSM could avert more new HIV infections (12·8% in Australia, 27·6% in Thailand, and 32·8% in China), but implementing CAB-LA was not cost-effective due to its high cost. The cost of CAB-LA would need to be reduced by 50-90% and be used as a complementary strategy to oral PrEP to be cost-effective in these countries.

INTERPRETATION

Expanding oral PrEP use for MSM, with country-specific testing frequency, is cost-effective in Australia, Thailand, and China. Due to the high cost, CAB-LA is currently not affordable as a single-use strategy but might be offered as an additional option to oral PrEP.

FUNDING

Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, National Key Research and Development Program of China, and National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Trends in Testing and Self-Reported Diagnoses of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Gay and Bisexual Men in Australia, 2017 to 2021: Analysis of National Behavioral Surveillance Surveys

BACKGROUND

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are overrepresented in diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) relative to their population size. This study assessed trends in STI testing and diagnoses among GBM in Australia.

METHODS

The Gay Community Periodic Surveys are repeated cross-sectional behavioral surveillance surveys of GBM. Participants reported the number of anal swabs, throat swabs, urine samples, and blood tests for syphilis they undertook in the last year. "Frequent comprehensive testing" was defined as ≥3 of each test in the previous year. Participants reported STI diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other STIs in the last year. Trends in testing and diagnoses from 2017 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 were assessed with logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We analyzed 24,488 survey responses from participants reporting casual sex in the last 6 months. Between 2017 and 2020, frequent comprehensive STI testing decreased among HIV-negative GBM on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) from 71.7% to 68.9% and declined further to 58.6% in 2021. Frequent comprehensive STI testing was stable during 2017-2020 among HIV-negative/untested GBM not on PrEP (17.4%-14.6%) and HIV-positive GBM (30.4%-35.1%) but declined in 2021 to 7.5% among non-PrEP-users and 25.7% among HIV-positive participants. There were minimal changes in STI diagnoses during 2017-2020, but diagnoses declined in 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

Many GBM do not meet Australian STI testing guidelines that recommend quarterly testing. Further evaluation of whether this recommendation is realistic or necessary to reduce STIs among GBM is recommended.

National Surveillance of Home-Based HIV Testing Among Australian Gay and Bisexual Men, 2018-2020: Uptake After Commercial Availability of HIV Self-Tests

HIV self-testing allows people to collect samples and test themselves at home, addressing known barriers to facility-based testing. We aimed to measure the uptake of home HIV testing among Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM). Using national cross-sectional data from the Australian Gay Community Periodic Surveys, we assessed trends in home HIV testing among non-HIV positive GBM between 2018 and 2020. Overall, the use of home HIV testing was low, but slightly increased during 2018-2020 (from 0.3 to 0.8%, RR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.23-1.92, p-trend < 0.001). Testing at home was more likely among non-HIV-positive GBM who were born overseas and recently arrived in Australia, at higher risk of HIV, and infrequent HIV testers. Given the greater use of home testing by men at higher risk of HIV, recent migrants and infrequent testers, all priority groups in Australia's HIV epidemic, we recommend increasing access to HIV self-testing to enhance uptake in these and other groups of GBM.

Strategies to increase HIV testing among men who have sex with men and transgender women: an integrative review

BACKGROUND

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are disproportionately affected by HIV, with much higher incidence and prevalence rates than in the general population in different countries. There are several barriers to testing among MSM and TGW, such as low risk perception, anticipation of HIV-related stigma, discrimination of sexual orientation, in addition to difficulties related to care and access to health services. Therefore, analyzing the available evidence of the effectiveness of strategies for scaling up HIV testing among key populations is essential to point out potential knowledge gaps which may need to be addressed and develop public health policies to promote testing and early diagnosis of HIV infection.

METHODS

An integrative review was carried out to evaluate strategies for scaling up HIV testing in these populations. Search strategy was performed on eight electronic databases, without language restriction. We included clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, and non-randomized studies. Study selection and data extraction were both performed independently by pairs and disagreements were solved by a third revisor. The screening of the studies was carried out through the selection of titles/abstracts and the reading of the full texts of the pre-selected studies based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Data extraction was performed using a structured form.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven publications referring to 35 studies were included, mostly being carried out in the United States of America and Australia. No studies were found evaluating disaggregated data on TGW. The studies were grouped into four types of intervention strategies: self-test distribution system (n = 10), organization of health services (n = 9), peer education (n = 6), and social marketing campaign (n = 10). Strategies that focused on the first three groups, combined or not, were more effective in increasing HIV testing among MSM.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the diversity of interventions and the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, strategies especially involving self-test distribution systems, associated with new information and communication technologies, should be evaluated in different communities and social contexts. Research evaluating specific studies on TGW population is still needed.

The acceptability and usability of two HIV self‐test kits among men who have sex with men: a randomised crossover trial

Objectives

Design

Setting, participants

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Is non-occupational HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) still used? An exploration of nPEP use since widespread availability of HIV PrEP

BACKGROUND

Non-occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) is an effective HIV prevention strategy in gay and bisexual men (GBM) taken after possible exposure. HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is also a highly effective HIV prevention strategy.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of medical records of GBM presenting to a sexual health centre and provided with nPEP compared two periods to determine if nPEP usage changed following availability of PrEP. In the first period (P1) PrEP was available through extended trials. In the second period (P2) PrEP became more accessible through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Period comparisons were performed using a two-population test of proportions with one-tailed testing and significance set at P < .05 using SPSS Statistics Version 25.

RESULTS

There were 232 GBM provided with nPEP in P1, and 202 in P2. A two-population test of proportions demonstrated that GBM presentations for nPEP decreased significantly from 302/4779 (6.3%) of GBM visits in P1 to 221/7205 (3.1%) in P2 when PrEP was more accessible (Z=8.53, P < .001). PrEP uptake after presenting for nPEP increased from 30 (12.9%) of total GBM visits in P1 to 69 (34.2%) in P2 (Z=5.26, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

GBM accessing nPEP decreased with statistical significance post introduction of PBS PrEP.

Preferences for HIV Testing Services and HIV Self-Testing Distribution Among Migrant Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Australia

Background

In Australia, undiagnosed HIV rates are much higher among migrant gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) than Australian-born GBMSM. HIV self-testing is a promising tool to overcome barriers to HIV testing and improve HIV testing uptake among migrant GBMSM. We compared the preferences for HIV testing services, including HIV self-testing, among migrant and Australian-born GBMSM.

Methods

Preferences were assessed via two discrete choice experiments (DCEs). Participants were recruited between December 2017 and January 2018 using online and offline advertising and randomly assigned to complete one of two online DCE surveys. Migrant GBMSM were classified as being born in a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement (RHCA) with Australia (providing free or subsided health care) or not. Latent class analysis and mixed logit models were used to explore heterogeneity in preferences.

Findings

We recruited 1,606 GBMSM, including 583 migrant men of whom 419 (72%) were born in non-RHCA countries. Most participants preferred a free or cheap oral test with higher accuracy and a shorter window period to facilitate early detection of infections. Cost was more important for men born in non-RHCA countries than for men from RHCA countries or Australia. All groups preferred accessing kits through online distributers or off the shelf purchasing from pharmacies. Men born in RHCA countries least preferred accessing HIV self-testing kits from a medical clinic, while more than half of men from non-RHCA countries most preferred sourcing kits from a clinic. Sex-on-premises venues were the least preferred location to access test kits among all groups. In addition, two latent class analyses explored heterogeneity in preferences among men from non-RHCA countries and we found four latent classes for HIV testing services and two latent classes for HIVST distribution.

Interpretation

Our findings emphasise the need for high-performing and low-cost HIV self-testing kits that are accessible from a variety of distribution points as a component of Australia's HIV response, especially for those who do not have access to free or subsidised health care in Australia.