Reducing HIV-Related Health Disparities in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Age and Race Disparities in Viral Suppression and the Moderating Effect of Substance Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV

Viral suppression is essential for individuals living with HIV, as it is linked to improved clinical outcomes and long-term health. Research has documented age and racial disparities in HIV viral suppression. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are particularly affected by HIV infections, especially in the Southern United States. Studies indicate that substance use among people with HIV in the U.S. presents significant barriers to engaging in HIV care. This study investigated the relationships between age, race, MSM status, and viral suppression among men living with HIV (MLWH), who participated in the Helping HAND program at an academic medical center in a Southern state. The analysis included 746 male participants, primarily Black/African American. The results showed that increases in age were positively associated with a greater likelihood of viral suppression, even after adjusting for harmful or hazardous drinking, problematic substance use, race, and MSM status. Younger MSM participants were less likely to achieve viral suppression than older MSM participants. In this male only sample, neither race nor MSM status was found to be related to viral suppression. Additionally, harmful or hazardous drinking and problematic substance use did not moderate the associations between age, race, or MSM and viral suppression. These findings highlight disparities in viral suppression across different age groups among men living with HIV. The results emphasize the need for targeted outreach initiatives specifically designed for younger age cohorts living with HIV, including MSM.

Association Between County-Level Social Vulnerability and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Funded HIV Testing Program Outcomes in the United States, 2020-2022

BACKGROUND

Community-level social vulnerabilities may affect HIV outcomes. This analysis assessed the association between county-level social vulnerability and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded HIV testing program outcomes.

SETTING

HIV testing data from 60 state and local health departments and 119 community-based organizations were submitted to CDC during 2020-2022.

METHODS

HIV testing data were combined with the county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index, which measures economic, medical, and social vulnerability. We calculated absolute and relative disparity measures for HIV testing program outcomes (ie, HIV positivity, linkage to HIV medical care, interview for partner services, referral to preexposure prophylaxis providers) between high and low social vulnerability counties. We compared differences in HIV testing program outcomes by demographic factors and test site type.

RESULTS

The majority (85.8%) of the 4.9 million tests were conducted in high social vulnerability counties. HIV positivity (1.1%) and linkage to medical care after a new diagnosis (77.5%) were higher in high social vulnerability counties. However, interview for partner services after a new diagnosis (72.1%) and referrals to preexposure prophylaxis providers among eligible HIV-negative persons (48.1%) were lower in high social vulnerability counties. Additionally, the relative disparity in HIV testing program outcomes varied by demographic factors and test site type.

CONCLUSIONS

CDC-funded HIV testing programs reach the most vulnerable communities. However, testing outcomes vary by community vulnerability, demographic factors, and test site type. Continued monitoring of the relationship between county-level social vulnerability and HIV testing program outcomes would guide HIV testing efforts and allocate resources effectively to achieve the national goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

Cardiology Encounters for Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Borderline Cardiovascular Disease Risk

BACKGROUND

Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs) with HIV have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Referral to a cardiovascular specialist improves CVD risk factor management in high-risk individuals. However, patient and provider factors impacting the likelihood of UREGs with HIV to have an encounter with a cardiologist are unknown.

METHODS

We evaluated a cohort of UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk (10-year risk ≥ 5% by the pooled cohort equations or ≥ 7.5% by Framingham risk score). Participants received HIV-related care from 2014-2020 at four academic medical centers in the United States (U.S.). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association of patient and provider characteristics with time to first ambulatory cardiology encounter.

RESULTS

A total of 2,039 people with HIV (PWH) and borderline CVD risk were identified. The median age was 45 years (IQR: 36-50); 52% were female; and 94% were Black. Of these participants, 283 (14%) had an ambulatory visit with a cardiologist (17% of women vs. 11% of men, p < .001). In fully adjusted models, older age, higher body mass index (BMI), atrial fibrillation, multimorbidity, urban residence, and no recent insurance were associated with a greater likelihood of an encounter with a cardiologist.

CONCLUSION

In UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk, the strongest determinants of a cardiology encounter were diagnosed CVD, insurance type, and urban residence. Future research is needed to determine the extent to which these encounters impact CVD care practices and outcomes in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025125.

The health equity implications of the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the role of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) - which funds services for vulnerable and historically disadvantaged populations with HIV - in reducing health inequities among people with HIV over a 10-year horizon.

DESIGN

We use an agent-based microsimulation model to incorporate the complexity of the program and long-time horizon.

METHODS

We use a composite measure (the Theil index) to evaluate the health equity implications of the RWHAP for each of four subgroups (based on race and ethnicity, age, gender, and HIV transmission category) and two outcomes (probability of being in care and treatment and probability of being virally suppressed). We compare results with the RWHAP fully funded versus a counterfactual scenario, in which the medical and support services funded by the RWHAP are not available.

RESULTS

The model indicates the RWHAP will improve health equity across all demographic subgroups and outcomes over a 10-year horizon. In Year 10, the Theil index for race and ethnicity is 99% lower for both outcomes under the RWHAP compared to the non-RWHAP scenario; 71-93% lower across HIV transmission categories; 31-44% lower for age; and 73-75% lower for gender.

CONCLUSION

Given the large number of people served by the RWHAP and our findings on its impact on equity, the RWHAP represents an important vehicle for achieving the health equity goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2022-2025) and the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative goal of reducing new infections by 90% by 2030.

Patient Education and Decision Support for Long-Acting Injectable HIV Antiretroviral Therapy: Protocol for Tool Development and Pilot Testing with Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Medical Case Management Programs in New York

BACKGROUND

Long-acting injectable (LAI) HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) presents a major opportunity to facilitate and sustain HIV viral suppression, thus improving health and survival among people living with HIV and reducing the risk of onward transmission. However, realizing the public health potential of LAI ART requires reaching patients who face barriers to daily oral ART adherence and thus can clinically benefit from alternative treatment modalities. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A medical case management (MCM) programs provide an array of services to address barriers to HIV care and treatment among economically and socially marginalized people living with HIV. These programs have demonstrated effectiveness in improving engagement along the continuum of care, but findings of limited program impact on durable viral suppression highlight the need to further innovate and hone strategies to support long-term ART adherence.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to adapt and expand Ryan White MCM service strategies to integrate LAI ART regimen options, with the larger goal of improving health outcomes in the populations that could most benefit from alternatives to daily oral ART regimens.

METHODS

In 3 phases of work involving patient and provider participants, this study uses role-specific focus groups to elicit perceptions of LAI versus daily oral ART; discrete choice experiment (DCE) surveys to quantify preferences for different ART delivery options and related supports; and a nonrandomized trial to assess the implementation and utility of newly developed tools at 6 partnering Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A MCM programs based in urban, suburban, and semirural areas of New York. Findings from the focus groups and DCEs, as well as feedback from advisory board meetings, informed the design and selection of the tools: a patient-facing, 2-page fact sheet, including frequently asked questions and a side-by-side comparison of LAI with daily oral ART; a patient-facing informational video available on YouTube (Google Inc); and a patient-provider decision aid. Implementation outcomes, measured through provider interviews, surveys, and service reporting, will guide further specification of strategies to integrate LAI ART options into MCM program workflows.

RESULTS

The study was funded in late April 2021 and received approval from the institutional review board in May 2021 under protocol 20-096. Focus groups were conducted in late 2021 (n=21), DCEs ran from June 2022 to January 2023 (n=378), and tools for piloting were developed by May 2023. The trial (May 2023 through January 2024) has enrolled >200 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is designed to provide evidence regarding the acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and utility of a package of patient-oriented tools for comparing and deciding between LAI ART and daily oral ART options. Study strengths include formative work to guide tool development, a mixed methods approach, and the testing of tools in real-world safety-net service settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05833542; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05833542.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/56892.

Drug Use-Related Discrimination in Healthcare Settings and Subsequent Emergency Department Utilization in a Prospective Cohort Study of People With a History of Injection Drug Use

BACKGROUND

 People with a history of injection drug use face discrimination in healthcare settings that may impede their use of routine care, leading to greater reliance on the emergency department (ED) for addressing health concerns. The relationship between discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization has not been established in this population.

METHODS

 This analysis used longitudinal data collected between January 2014 and March 2020 from participants of the ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience) study, a community-based observational cohort study of people with a history of injection drug use in Baltimore, Maryland. Logistic regressions with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate associations between drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization for the sample overall and six subgroups based on race, sex, and HIV status.

RESULTS

 1,342 participants contributed data from 7,289 semiannual study visits. Participants were predominately Black (82%), mostly male (66%), and 33% were living with HIV. Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings (reported at 6% of study visits) was positively associated with any subsequent ED use (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.72). Positive associations persisted after adjusting for covariates, including past sixth-month ED use and drug use, among the overall sample (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.59) and among some subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

 Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings was associated with greater subsequent ED utilization in this sample. Further exploration of mechanisms driving this relationship may help improve care and optimize healthcare engagement for people with a history of injection drug use.

Interruptions in HIV and Behavioral Health Care for Criminal-Legal Involved People Living with HIV Following Implementation of Decarceration and Shelter in Place in San Francisco, California

Decarceration policies, enacted for SARS-CoV-2 mitigation in carceral settings, potentially exacerbated barriers to care for people living with HIV (PWH) with criminal legal involvement (CLI) during Shelter-in-Place (SIP) by limiting opportunities for engagement in provisions of HIV and behavioral health care. We compared health care engagement for PWH with CLI in San Francisco, California before and after decarceration and SIP using interrupted time series analyses. Administrative data identified PWH booked at the San Francisco County Jail with at least one clinic encounter from 01/01/2018-03/31/2020 within the municipal health care network. Monthly proportions of HIV, substance use, psychiatric and acute care encounters before (05/01/2019-02/29/2020) and after (03/01/2020-12/31/2020) SIP and decarceration were compared using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) log-binomial and logistic regression models, clustering on the patient-level. Of 436 patients, mean age was 43 years (standard-deviation 11); 88% cisgender-male; 39% white, 66% homeless; 67% had trimorbidity by Elixhauser score (medical comorbidity, psychotic disorder or depression, and substance use disorder). Clinical encounters immediately dropped following SIP for HIV (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.90) and substance use visits (aRR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.99) and declined in subsequent months. Differential reductions in clinical encounters were seen among Black/African Americans (aRR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.99) and people experiencing homelessness (aRR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.87, 0.98). Significant reductions in care were observed for PWH with CLI during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Black/African Americans and people experiencing homelessness. Strategies to End the HIV Epidemic must improve engagement across diverse care settings to improve outcomes for this key population.

Looking back to see forward: multidirectional learning between the US Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

To end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat, there is urgent need to increase the frequency, depth and intentionality of bidirectional and mutually beneficial collaboration and coordination between the USA and global HIV/AIDS response. The US Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is uniquely positioned to showcase bidirectional learning between high-income and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the fight against HIV. For 30 years, HRSA has successfully administered the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), the largest federal programme designed specifically for people with HIV in the USA. Further, HRSA has developed and delivered innovative, cost-effective, impactful HIV programmes in over 30 countries as an implementing agency for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). When PEPFAR was authorised in 2003, HRSA rapidly developed systems and infrastructures to deliver life-saving treatment, initiated workforce development programmes to mitigate health worker shortages, and laid the path for transitioning PEPFAR activities from US-based organisations to sustainable, country-led entities. As global programmes matured, lessons learnt within LMICs gradually began strengthening health services in the USA. To fully optimise synergies between RWHAP and PEPFAR, there is a critical need to build on successful initiatives, harness innovation and technology, and inculcate the spirt of multidirectional learning into global health. HRSA is promoting bidirectional learning between domestic and international HIV programming through documenting, sharing and implementing strategies, lessons learnt, best practices and effective models of care to accelerate achievement of HIV epidemic control and support country-led, sustained responses to public health threats.

Viral load and sexually transmitted infection testing among youth with HIV in a southern United States clinic

Background: As compared to their older peers, youth with HIV (YWH) are less likely to attain viral suppression and have higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI). In this exploratory study, we examine the relationship between HIV viral suppression, STI testing, and STI diagnosis among YWH receiving care at a clinic in the southern United States.Methods: Data from 933 clinical visits (2017-2020) were aggregated into singular patient records for YWH aged 10-24 years in Alabama (N = 139). Analyses included univariate generalized linear mixed models performed with the PROC GLIMMIX procedure approximating the marginal likelihood by using Laplace's method.Results: Sample median age was 22 years at the index visit. Most YWH were 20-24 years old (69.1%), male (67.6%), and identified as Black (77%); 58.3% were virally unsuppressed at index visit. YWH who identified as White or of other races had 4.79 times higher odds of being virally suppressed as compared to Black YWH (p < .01); STI testing behavior and STI positive diagnosis were associated with lower odds of being virally suppression.Conclusions: Findings suggest that among YWH, receiving STI testing and having an STI diagnosis is associated with a lack of viral suppression, suggesting that extra efforts may be necessary to support YWH who have an STI to attain suppression. Research is needed to examine individual behaviors, structural forces, and clinic features that could impact STI care engagement, specifically among unsuppressed YWH.

Variation in local Ryan White HIV/AIDS program service use and impacts on viral suppression: informing quality improvement efforts

The U.S. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) funds comprehensive services for people living with HIV to support viral suppression (VS). We analyzed five years of RWHAP data from the Minneapolis-St. Paul region to (1) assess variation and (2) evaluate the causal effect of each RWHAP service on sustained VS by race/ethnicity. Sixteen medical and support services were included. Descriptive analyses assessed service use and trends over time. Causal analyses used generalized estimating equations and propensity scores to adjust for the probability of service use. Receipt of AIDS Drug Assistance Program and financial aid consistently showed higher probabilities of sustained VS, while food aid and transportation aid had positive impacts on VS at higher levels of service encounters; however, the impact of services could vary by race/ethnicity. For example, financial aid increased the probability of sustained VS by at least 3 percentage points for white, Hispanic and Black/African American clients, but only 1.6 points for Black/African-born clients. This study found that services addressing socioeconomic needs typically had positive impacts on viral suppression, yet service use and impact of services often varied by race/ethnicity. This highlights a need to ensure these services are designed and delivered in ways that equitably serve all clients.

Sex differences in psychosocial and demographic factors associated with sustained HIV viral suppression in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program, 2017

This exploratory study examined sex differences in psychosocial and demographic factors associated with sustained HIV viral suppression (SVS). The study population included 6,489 Miami-Dade Ryan White Program (RWP) clients receiving services during 2017; administrative data was analyzed. SVS was defined as having all viral load tests during 2017 below 200 copies/ml. Multilevel logistic regression models accounted for clustering by medical case management site. Models were stratified by sex. Overall, a higher proportion of females did not achieve SVS (23.5%) than males (18.1%). For females (n = 1,503), having acquired HIV perinatally and not having a partner oradult household member were associated with not achieving SVS. For males (n = 4,986), lacking access to food, Black or Haitian race/ethnicity, problematic substance use, and unknown physician were associated with not achieving SVS. For both sexes, younger age, lower household income, ever having an AIDS diagnosis, feeling depressed or anxious, and experiencing homelessness were associated with not achieving SVS. Elements of the transition from adolescent to adult HIV care that may differentially impact female clients and factors associated with disclosure should be explored further. Male clients may require additional support for food security. Improving culturally specific care for Haitian and non-Hispanic Black male clients should also be explored.

Accessing Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Telemedicine: Perspectives From People With HIV

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a steep increase in telemedicine implementation and use. Data are lacking on telemedicine use in marginalized and underserved groups including people with HIV (PWH). The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is the largest single provider of HIV care in the United States (U.S.) and the southern part of the country remains the epicenter of the HIV epidemic. This study recruited PWH from RWHAP clinics across South Texas. To ascertain their perspectives on utilizing telemedicine for HIV care during the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey instrument derived from validated instruments was used. Descriptive statistics were used for client characteristics, quality of telemedicine care, and COVID-19 impact. Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests were assessed associations of telemedicine care quality and COVID-19 impact between client groups. Among 246 eligible PWH, 122 clients completed the survey with a response rate of 50%. Clients were predominantly Hispanic males. Significant differences in perception of telemedicine care and the impact of COVID-19 by gender, age, language, and race/ethnicity were observed. Older PWHIV used telemedicine more than younger clients (p = .01). English speakers indicated more impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life than Spanish speakers (p = .02). Worry about the pandemic was most evident among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic PWH (p = .03). Overall, telemedicine was found to be a favorable and acceptable mechanism of HIV care delivery by PWH in a Southern state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study protocol for data to suppression (D2S): a cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge effectiveness trial of a reporting and capacity-building intervention to improve HIV viral suppression in housing and behavioural health programmes in New York City

INTRODUCTION

With progress in the 'diagnose', 'link' and 'retain' stages of the HIV care continuum, viral suppression (VS) gains increasingly hinge on antiretroviral adherence among people with HIV (PWH) retained in care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that unsuppressed viral load among PWH in care accounts for 20% of onward transmission. HIV intervention strategies include 'data to care' (D2C)-using surveillance to identify out-of-care PWH for follow-up. However, most D2C efforts target care linkage, not antiretroviral adherence, and limit client-level data sharing to medical (versus support-service) providers. Drawing on lessons learnt in D2C and successful local pilots, we designed a 'data-to-suppression' intervention that offers HIV support-service programmes surveillance-based reports listing their virally unsuppressed clients and capacity-building assistance for quality-improvement activities. We aimed to scale and test the intervention in agencies delivering Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programme-funded behavioural health and housing services.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

To estimate intervention effects, this study applies a cross-sectional, stepped-wedge design to the intervention's rollout to 27 agencies randomised within matched pairs to early or delayed implementation. Data from three 12-month periods (pre-implementation, partial implementation and full implementation) will be examined to assess intervention effects on timely VS (within 6 months of a report listing the client as needing follow-up for VS). Based on projected enrolment (n=1619) and a pre-implementation outcome probability of 0.40-0.45, the detectable effect size with 80% power is an OR of 2.12 (relative risk: 1.41-1.46).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's institutional review board (protocol: 21-036) with a waiver of informed consent. Findings will be disseminated via publications, conferences and meetings including provider-agency representatives.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05140421.

Coordinating Care for People With HIV Who Have Lower Incomes and Alternative Sources of Health Care Coverage

ABSTRACT

As people with HIV increasingly access affordable health care coverage-enabling them to obtain medical care from private providers-understanding how they use the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), and their unmet health care needs, can enhance their overall care. We analyzed RWHAP client-level data and interviewed staff and clients at 29 provider organizations to identify trends in health care coverage and service use for clients who received medical care from private providers. The RWHAP helps cover the cost of premiums and copays for these clients and provides medical and support services that help them stay engaged in care and virally suppressed. The RWHAP plays an important role in HIV care and treatment for clients with health care coverage. The growing number of people who receive a combination of services from RWHAP providers and private providers offers opportunities for greater care coordination through communication and data sharing between these settings.

Person-time spent with HIV viral load above 1500 copies/mL among Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program clients, 2017-2019: a retrospective analysis

HIV transmission risk significantly increases at HIV viral load (VL) >1500 copies/mL. We sought to determine the percentage of person-time spent with VL >1500 copies/mL (pPT >1500) and the associations of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors and this outcome among persons with HIV receiving care. A retrospective analysis of data from clients enrolled in the Ryan White Program from 2017 to 2019 was performed. We assessed pPT >1500 in HIV care by utilizing consecutive VL pairs and calculating the length of time between each pair and the corresponding time spent for the observation period. The association between pPT >1500 and selected client characteristics were analyzed using a random-effects zero-inflated negative binomial model. Among the 6390 clients, 42% were aged 50 or older, 52% MSM, and 59% Hispanic. Overall, 7.5% of clients spent, on average, 27.4 days per year at substantial risk of transmitting HIV. Younger age, AIDS diagnosis, and reported drug use in the preceding 12 months were associated with higher pPT >1500. Tailored interventions should be implemented to meet the unique HIV needs of groups with consistent viremia to significantly minimize transmission risk.

HIV Care Outcomes in Relation to Racial Redlining and Structural Factors Affecting Medical Care Access Among Black and White Persons with Diagnosed HIV-United States, 2017

Black/African American (Black) versus White persons are unequally burdened by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. Structural factors can influence social determinants of health, key components in reducing HIV-related health inequality by race. This analysis examined HIV care outcomes among Black and White persons with diagnosed HIV (PWDH) in relation to three structural factors: racial redlining, Medicaid expansion, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) use. Using National HIV Surveillance System, U.S. Census, and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, we examined linkage to HIV care and viral suppression (i.e., viral load < 200 copies/mL) in relation to the structural factors among 12,996 Black and White PWDH with HIV diagnosed in 2017/alive at year-end 2018, aged ≥ 18 years, and residing in 38 U.S. jurisdictions with complete laboratory data, geocoding, and census tract-level redlining indexes. Compared to White PWDH, a lower proportion of Black PWDH were linked to HIV care within 1 month after diagnosis and were virally suppressed in 2018. Redlining was not associated with the HIV care outcomes. A higher prevalence of PWDH residing (v. not residing) in states with Medicaid expansion were linked to HIV care ≤ 1 month after diagnosis. A higher prevalence of those residing (v. not residing) in states with > 50% of PWDH in RWHAP had viral suppression. Direct exposure to redlining was not associated with poor HIV care outcomes. Structural factors that reduce the financial burden of HIV care and improve care access like Medicaid expansion and RWHAP might improve HIV care outcomes of PWDH.

Advancing behavioral interventions for African American/Black and Latino persons living with HIV using a new conceptual model that integrates critical race theory, harm reduction, and self-determination theory: a qualitative exploratory study

BACKGROUND

Rates of participation in HIV care, medication uptake, and viral suppression are improving among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States. Yet, disparities among African American/Black and Latino PLWH are persistent, signaling the need for new conceptual approaches. To address gaps in services and research (e.g., insufficient attention to structural/systemic factors, inadequate harm reduction services and autonomy support) and improve behavioral interventions, we integrated critical race theory, harm reduction, and self-determination theory into a new conceptual model, then used the model to develop a set of six intervention components which were tested in a larger study. The present qualitative study explores participants' perspectives on the study's acceptability, feasibility, and impact, and the conceptual model's contribution to these experiences.

METHODS

Participants in the larger study were African American/Black and Latino PLWH poorly engaged in HIV care and with non-suppressed HIV viral load in New York City (N = 512). We randomly selected N = 46 for in-depth semi-structured interviews on their experiences with and perspectives on the study. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

On average, participants were 49 years old (SD = 9) and had lived with HIV for 19 years (SD = 7). Most were male (78%) and African American/Black (76%). All had taken HIV medication previously. Challenging life contexts were the norm, including poverty, poor quality/unstable housing, trauma histories exacerbated by current trauma, health comorbidities, and substance use. Participants found the study highly acceptable. We organized results into four themes focused on participants' experiences of: 1) being understood as a whole person and in their structural/systemic context; 2) trustworthiness and trust; 3) opportunities for self-reflection; and 4) support of personal autonomy. The salience of nonjudgment was prominent in each theme. Themes reflected grounding in the conceptual model. Participants reported these characteristics were lacking in HIV care settings.

CONCLUSIONS

The new conceptual model emphasizes the salience of systemic/structural and social factors that drive health behavior and the resultant interventions foster trust, self-reflection, engagement, and behavior change. The model has potential to enhance intervention acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness with African American/Black and Latino PLWH.

Vital Signs: HIV Infection, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men - United States, 2010-2019

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for two thirds of new HIV infections in the United States in 2019 despite representing approximately 2% of the adult population.

Methods

CDC analyzed surveillance data to determine trends in estimated new HIV infections and to assess measures of undiagnosed infection and HIV prevention and treatment services including HIV testing, preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and viral suppression, as well as HIV-related stigma.

Results

The estimated number of new HIV infections among MSM was 25,100 in 2010 and 23,100 in 2019. New infections decreased significantly among White MSM but did not decrease among Black or African American (Black) MSM and Hispanic/Latino MSM. New infections increased among MSM aged 25–34 years. During 2019, approximately 83% of Black MSM and 80% of Hispanic/Latino MSM compared with 90% of White MSM with HIV had received an HIV diagnosis. The lowest percentage of diagnosed infection was among MSM aged 13–24 years (55%). Among MSM with a likely PrEP indication, discussions about PrEP with a provider and PrEP use were lower among Black MSM (47% and 27%, respectively) and Hispanic/Latino MSM (45% and 31%) than among White MSM (59% and 42%). Among MSM with an HIV diagnosis, adherence to ART and viral suppression were lower among Black MSM (48% and 62%, respectively) and Hispanic/Latino MSM (59% and 67%) compared with White MSM (64% and 74%). Experiences of HIV-related stigma among those with an HIV diagnosis were higher among Black MSM (median = 33; scale = 0–100) and Hispanic/Latino MSM (32) compared with White MSM (26). MSM aged 18–24 years had the lowest adherence to ART (45%) and the highest median stigma score (39).

Conclusion

Improving access to and use of HIV services for MSM, especially Black MSM, Hispanic/Latino MSM, and younger MSM, and addressing social determinants of health, such as HIV-related stigma, that contribute to unequal outcomes will be essential to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Factors Associated with Transition of HIV Care Readiness Among Adolescents and Youth from a Specialty Pediatric HIV Clinic in the United States

Transitioning from pediatric to adult services is known to be associated with worsening of health outcomes and decreased retention in care among adolescents and youth living with HIV (AYLHIV). We aimed to identify factors associated with HIV care transition readiness among AYLHIV in care at a pediatric HIV clinic in Washington, DC. This retrospective cohort study from June 2019 through January 2021 collected demographic and clinical characteristics from the clinic database. We adapted the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ; scored 1-4; 1 being the lowest level of preparedness) to evaluate transition readiness over time. We analyzed data using two-sided unadjusted two-sample and paired t-tests and adjusted analysis of variance (ANOVA). We included 103 AYLHIV (50.49% female; 100% non-Hispanic Black/African American; mean age = 19.54 ± 2.78 years; 81.55% virally suppressed). Mean baseline TRAQ score (2.32 ± 0.78) was associated with age (p < 0.0001), gender (p = 0.033), mode of HIV transmission (p = 0.0005), viral suppression (p = 0.0033), and duration of HIV diagnosis (p = 0.012). AYLHIV diagnosed with HIV within the prior year experienced significantly greater mean improvement in transition readiness compared with those living with HIV for >10 years (p = 0.013). Adjusted for covariates, older age (p < 0.0001), undetectable viral load (p = 0.0008), and presence of mental health condition(s) (p = 0.020) were associated with higher TRAQ scores. Lower improvement in transition readiness among youth with a longer history of HIV suggests that AYLHIV with perinatally acquired HIV might require additional support than those with horizontally acquired HIV.

Improving health equity and ending the HIV epidemic in the USA: a distributional cost-effectiveness analysis in six cities

BACKGROUND

In the USA, Black and Hispanic or Latinx individuals continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. Applying a distributional cost-effectiveness framework, we estimated the cost-effectiveness and epidemiological impact of two combination implementation approaches to identify the approach that best meets the dual objectives of improving population health and reducing racial or ethnic health disparities.

METHODS

We adapted a dynamic, compartmental HIV transmission model to characterise HIV micro-epidemics in six US cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle. We considered combinations of 16 evidence-based interventions to diagnose, treat, and prevent HIV transmission according to previously documented levels of scale-up. We then identified optimal combination strategies for each city, with the distribution of each intervention implemented according to existing service levels (proportional services approach) and the racial or ethnic distribution of new diagnoses (between Black, Hispanic or Latinx, and White or other ethnicity individuals; equity approach). We estimated total costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of strategies implemented from 2020 to 2030 (health-care perspective; 20-year time horizon; 3% annual discount rate). We estimated three measures of health inequality (between-group variance, index of disparity, Theil index), incidence rate ratios, and rate differences for the selected strategies under each approach.

FINDINGS

In all cities, optimal combination strategies under the equity approach generated more QALYs than those with proportional services, ranging from a 3·1% increase (95% credible interval [CrI] 1·4-5·3) in New York to more than double (101·9% [75·4-134·6]) in Atlanta. Compared with proportional services, the equity approach delivered lower costs over 20 years in all cities except Los Angeles; cost reductions ranged from $22·9 million (95% CrI 5·3-55·7 million) in Seattle to $579·8 million (255·4-940·5 million) in Atlanta. The equity approach also reduced incidence disparities and health inequality measures in all cities except Los Angeles.

INTERPRETATION

Equity-focused HIV combination implementation strategies that reduce disparities for Black and Hispanic or Latinx individuals can significantly improve population health, reduce costs, and drive progress towards Ending the HIV Epidemic goals in the USA.

FUNDING

National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Latent Class Analysis of Syndemic Factors Associated with Sustained Viral Suppression among Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clients in Miami, 2017

The study's objective was to identify the association between sustained viral suppression (all viral load tests < 200 copies/ml per year) and patterns of co-occurring risk factors including, mental health, substance use, sexual risk behavior, and adverse social conditions for people with HIV (PWH). Latent class analysis followed by multivariable logistic regression was conducted for 6554 PWH in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program during 2017, and a five-class model was selected. Compared to Class 1 (no risk factors), the odds of achieving sustained viral suppression was significantly lower for Class 2 (mental health) (aOR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.54-0.83), Class 3 (substance use and multiple sexual partners) (0.60; 0.47-0.76), Class 4 (substance use, multiple sexual partners, and domestic violence) (0.71; 0.55-0.93), and Class 5 (mental health, substance use, multiple sexual partners, domestic violence, and homelessness) (0.26; 0.19-0.35). Findings indicate the need for targeted interventions that address these syndemic factors.

Health-Related Social Needs Among Emergency Department Patients with HIV

Little research has examined the health-related social needs of emergency department (ED) patients who have HIV. We surveyed a random sample of public hospital ED patients and compared the social needs of patients with and without HIV. Social needs were high among all ED patients, but patients with HIV reported significantly higher levels of food insecurity (65.0% vs. 50.3%, p = 0.01) and homelessness or living doubled up (33.8% vs. 21.0%, p < 0.01) than other patients. Our findings suggest the importance of assessing social needs in ED-based interventions for patients with HIV.

"Ending the Epidemic" Will Not Happen Without Addressing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the United States Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic

We estimated human immunodeficiency virus incidence and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for black and Hispanic vs white populations in 6 cities in the United States (2020-2030). Large reductions in incidence are possible, but without elimination of disparities in healthcare access, we found that wide disparities persisted for black compared with white populations in particular (lowest IRR, 1.69 [95% credible interval, 1.19-2.30]).

Call to action: how can the US Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative succeed?

With more than 1·2 million people living with HIV in the USA, a complex epidemic across the large and diverse country, and a fragmented health-care system marked by widening health disparities, the US HIV epidemic requires sustained scientific and public health attention. The epidemic has been stubbornly persistent; high incidence densities have been sustained over decades and the epidemic is increasingly concentrated among racial, ethnic, and sexual and gender minority communities. This fact remains true despite extraordinary scientific advances in prevention, treatment, and care-advances that have been led, to a substantial degree, by US-supported science and researchers. In this watershed year of 2021 and in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the USA will not meet the stated goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, particularly those goals relating to reductions in new infections, decreases in morbidity, and reductions in HIV stigma. The six papers in the Lancet Series on HIV in the USA have each examined the underlying causes of these challenges and laid out paths forward for an invigorated, sustained, and more equitable response to the US HIV epidemic than has been seen to date. The sciences of HIV surveillance, prevention, treatment, and implementation all suggest that the visionary goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in the USA might be achievable. However, fundamental barriers and challenges need to be addressed and the research effort sustained if we are to succeed.

Factors associated with HIV care and treatment cascade in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2014-2017: A cross-sectional study

In 2018, Rio Grande do Sul (RS) had some of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in Brazil, and we did not find any studies about the HIV care and treatment cascade (HCTC) related to this state. We aimed to estimate the indicators of HCTC of RS, Brazil, and associated factors. A cross-sectional study with all people living with HIV (PLWH) in RS between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017 was conducted using a national database which registers all HIV notifications, CD4 and viral load laboratory data and antiretroviral therapy (ART) usage in the public health system. We considered sex, age, education, race, year of HIV diagnosis, and health region as predictor factors, and defined linkage to care, retention to care, being on ART, and having undetectable viral load as the HCTC indicators. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed using Stata 15.2. A total of 116,121 PLWH were diagnosed, 79,959 were linked to care, 72,117 retained in care, 69,219 on ART, and 54,857 had undetectable viral load from 2014 to 2017. We observed greatest attrition for younger age, non-white, and lower education in all HCTC indicators. Women are more likely to have undetectable viral load (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07), even though they are less likely to be retained to care (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89-0.96) and on ART (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.78-0.86). Although all HCTC indicators have increased over the period and the "test and treat" policy indicates improvements in ART and in undetectable viral load outcomes, evidence suggests specific attrition and disparities such as those related to HIV healthcare facilities should be addressed. These findings may be used by researchers, health professionals, and policymakers in order to investigate and implement interventions to better engage PLWH across the HCTC.

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.

Annual and durable HIV retention in care and viral suppression among patients of Peter Ho Clinic, 2013-2017

Objectives

To determine rates of annual and durable retention in medical care and viral suppression among patients enrolled in the Peter Ho Clinic, from 2013–2017.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of medical record data in an urban clinic, located in Newark, New Jersey, a high prevalence area of persons living with HIV. Viral load data were electronically downloaded, in rolling 1-year intervals, in two-month increments, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2019. Three teams were established, and every two months, they were provided with an updated list of patients with virologic failure. Retention and viral suppression rates were first calculated for each calendar-year. After patients were determined to be retained/suppressed annually, the proportion of patients with durable retention and viral suppression were calculated in two, three, four, five and six-year periods. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics by retention in care, virologic failure and viral suppression with Pearson Chi-square; p-value <0.05 was statistically significant. Multiple logistic regression models identified patient characteristics associated with retention in medical care, virologic failure and suppression.

Results

As of December 31, 2017, 1000 (57%) patients were retained in medical care of whom 870 (87%) were suppressed. Between 2013 and 2016, decreases in annual (85% to 77%) and durable retention in care were noted: two-year (72% to 70%) and three-year (63% to 59%) periods. However, increases were noted for 2017, in annual (89%) and durable retention in the two-year period (79%). In the adjusted model, when compared to current patients, retention in care was less likely among patients reengaging in medical care (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.98) but more likely among those newly diagnosed from 2014–2017 (aOR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.08–2.29), compared to those in care since 2013. A higher proportion of patients re-engaging in medical care had virologic failure than current patients (56% vs. 47%, p < 0.0001). As age decreased, virologic failure was more likely (p<0.0001). Between 2013 and 2017, increases in annual (74% to 87%) and durable viral suppression were noted: two-year (59% to 73%) and three-year (49% to 58%) periods. Viral suppression was more likely among patients retained in medical care up to 2017 versus those who were not (aOR: 5.52, 95% CI: 4.08–7.46). Those less likely to be suppressed were 20–29 vs. 60 years or older (aOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.28–0.97), had public vs. private insurance (aOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.15–0.55) and public vs. private housing (aOR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.40–0.87).

Conclusions

Restructuring clinical services at this urban clinic was associated with improved viral suppression. However, concurrent interventions to ensure retention in medical care were not implemented. Both retention in care and viral suppression interventions should be implemented in tandem to achieve an end to the epidemic. Retention in care and viral suppression should be measured longitudinally, instead of cross-sectional yearly evaluations, to capture dynamic changes in these indicators.

Brief Report: Understanding Preferences for HIV Care Among Patients Experiencing Homelessness or Unstable Housing: A Discrete Choice Experiment

BACKGROUND

Homelessness and unstable housing (HUH) negatively impact care outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH). To inform the design of a clinic program for PLWH experiencing HUH, we quantified patient preferences and trade-offs across multiple HIV-service domains using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

METHODS

We sequentially sampled PLWH experiencing HUH presenting at an urban HIV clinic with ≥1 missed primary care visit and viremia in the last year to conduct a DCE. Participants chose between 2 hypothetical clinics varying across 5 service attributes: care team "get to know me as a person" versus not; receiving $10, $15, or $20 gift cards for clinic visits; drop-in versus scheduled visits; direct phone communication to care team versus front-desk staff; and staying 2 versus 20 blocks from the clinic. We estimated attribute relative utility (ie, preference) using mixed-effects logistic regression and calculated the monetary trade-off of preferred options.

RESULTS

Among 65 individuals interviewed, 61% were >40 years old, 45% White, 77% men, 25% heterosexual, 56% lived outdoors/emergency housing, and 44% in temporary housing. Strongest preferences were for patient-centered care team [β = 3.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.57 to 5.02] and drop-in clinic appointments (β = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.80), with a willingness to trade $32.79 (95% CI: 14.75 to 50.81) and $11.45 (95% CI: 2.95 to 19.95) in gift cards/visit, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this DCE, PLWH experiencing HUH were willing to trade significant financial gain to have a personal relationship with and drop-in access to their care team rather than more resource-intensive services. These findings informed Ward 86's "POP-UP" program for PLWH-HUH and can inform "ending the HIV epidemic" efforts.

Can the 'Ending the HIV Epidemic' initiative transition the USA towards HIV/AIDS epidemic control?

: Using a dynamic HIV transmission model calibrated for six USA cities, we projected HIV incidence from 2020 to 2040 and estimated whether an established UNAIDS HIV epidemic control target could be met under ideal implementation of optimal combination strategies previously defined for each city. Four of six cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, New York City and Seattle) were projected to achieve epidemic control by 2040 and we identified differences in reaching epidemic control across racial/ethnic groups.

Vital Signs: Deaths Among Persons with Diagnosed HIV Infection, United States, 2010-2018

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy for persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who receive recommended treatment can approach that of the general population, yet HIV remains among the 10 leading causes of death among certain populations. Using surveillance data, CDC assessed progress toward reducing deaths among persons with diagnosed HIV (PWDH).

METHODS

CDC analyzed National HIV Surveillance System data for persons aged ≥13 years to determine age-adjusted death rates per 1,000 PWDH during 2010-2018. Using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, deaths with a nonmissing underlying cause were classified as HIV-related or non-HIV-related. Temporal changes in total deaths during 2010-2018 and deaths by cause during 2010-2017 (2018 excluded because of delays in reporting), by demographic characteristics, transmission category, and U.S. Census region of residence at time of death were calculated.

RESULTS

During 2010-2018, rates of death decreased by 36.6% overall (from 19.4 to 12.3 per 1,000 PWDH). During 2010-2017, HIV-related death rates decreased 48.4% (from 9.1 to 4.7), whereas non-HIV-related death rates decreased 8.6% (from 9.3 to 8.5). Rates of HIV-related deaths during 2017 were highest by race/ethnicity among persons of multiple races (7.0) and Black/African American persons (5.6), followed by White persons (3.9) and Hispanic/Latino persons (3.9). The HIV-related death rate was highest in the South (6.0) and lowest in the Northeast (3.2).

CONCLUSION

Early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and maintaining access to high-quality care and treatment have been successful in reducing HIV-related deaths and remain necessary for continuing reductions in HIV-related deaths.

New pathogen, same disparities: why COVID-19 and HIV remain prevalent in U.S. communities of colour and implications for ending the HIV epidemic

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative was launched nationally in February 2019. With a target of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, EHE initially scales up effective HIV prevention and care in 57 localities that comprise the greatest proportion of annual HIV diagnoses in the United States (US). However, the EHE effort has been eclipsed by another infectious disease 11 months into the Initiative's implementation. SARS-COV-2, a novel coronavirus, has infected more than eight million Americans and at least 223 000 (as of 23 October 2020) have succumbed to the disease. This commentary explores the social conditions that place communities of colour at greater risk for COVID-19 and HIV, and assesses challenges to EHE in a post-COVID-19 universe.

DISCUSSION

One of the many common threads between HIV and COVID-19 is the disproportionate impact of each disease among communities of colour. A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences surmised that as much as 70% of health outcomes are due to health access, socio-economic factors and environmental conditions. Social determinants of health associated with greater HIV burden in Black and Brown communities have re-emerged in epidemiological studies of disproportionate COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in communities of colour. Using data from the scientific literature, this commentary makes direct comparisons between HIV and COVID-19 racial disparities across the social determinants of health. Furthermore, I examine three sets of challenges facing EHE: (1) Challenges that hamper both the EHE and COVID-19 response (i.e. insufficiently addressing the social determinants of health; amplification of disparities as new health technologies are introduced) (2) Challenges posed by COVID-19 (i.e. diverting HIV resources to address COVID-19 and tapering of EHE funding generally); and (3) Challenges unrelated to COVID-19 (i.e. emergence of new and related health disparities; repeal of the Affordable Care Act and long-term viability of EHE).

CONCLUSIONS

Racism and discrimination place communities of colour at greater risk for COVID-19 as well as HIV. Achieving and sustaining an end to the U.S. HIV epidemic will require structural change to eliminate conditions that give rise to and maintain disparities.

Implementation science and the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program's work towards ending the HIV epidemic in the United States

Demetrios Psihopaidas and co-authors discuss the implementation science framework of an HIV/AIDS program in the United States.

HIV testing among pregnant women with prenatal care in the United States: An analysis of the 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth

Although there has been significant progress in reducing perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, the United States is yet to meet the proposed elimination goal of less than one infection per 100,000 live births. Failure to screen all pregnant women for HIV as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can result in missed opportunities for preventing vertical transmission of HIV with antiretroviral drugs. Using the 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth, this study examined HIV testing among pregnant women during prenatal care. We estimated the weighted proportion of self-reported HIV testing among women whose last pregnancy ended within 12 months prior to the interview. Logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with HIV testing. Of the 1566 women included in the study, 76.4% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 72.8-80.0) reported receiving an HIV test during prenatal care. In the multivariable regression model, high school diploma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.1), two completed pregnancies (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.7), health insurance coverage in the last 12 months (aOR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.6), Hispanic race/ethnicity (aOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.8-4.4), and non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3-3.8) were associated with higher odds of reporting being tested for HIV. However, household income of 300% or more of the federal poverty level (aOR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3-0.9) and urban residence (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.9) were associated with lower odds of reporting HIV testing. These findings suggest that HIV testing among pregnant women during prenatal care is not universal and may affect achieving the goal of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the United States.

Improving Care Outcomes for PLWH Experiencing Homelessness and Unstable Housing: a Synthetic Review of Clinic-Based Strategies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Singular interventions targeting vulnerable populations of people living with HIV (PLWH) are necessary for reducing new infections and optimizing individual-level outcomes, but extant literature for PLWH who experience homelessness and unstable housing (HUH) has not been compiled. To inform implementation of clinic-based programs that improve care outcomes in this population, we present a synthetic review of key studies examining clinic-based interventions, specifically case management, patient navigation, financial incentives, and the use of mobile technology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Results from unimodal interventions are mixed or descriptive, are limited by inability to address related multi-modal barriers to care, and do not address major challenges to implementation. Multi-component interventions are needed, but gaps in our knowledge base may limit widespread uptake of such interventions before further data are compiled. Future research evaluating interventions for PLWH experiencing HUH should include implementation outcomes in order to facilitate adaptation across diverse clinical settings.

Impact of viral suppression among persons with HIV upon estimated HIV incidence between 2010 and 2015 in the United States

BACKGROUND

The suppression of viremia among persons with HIV (PWH) using antiretroviral therapy has been hypothesized to reduce HIV incidence at the population level. We investigated the impact of state level viral suppression among PWH in the United States on estimated HIV incidence between 2010 and 2015.

METHODS

Viral suppression data and HIV incidence estimates from the National HIV Surveillance System were available from 29 states and the District of Columbia. We assumed a one year delay for viral suppression to impact incidence. Poisson regression models were used to calculate the estimated annual percent change (EAPC) in incidence rate. We employed a multivariable mixed-effects Poisson regression model to assess the effects of state level race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, percent men who have sex with men (MSM) and hepatitis C virus prevalence as a proxy for injection drug use on HIV incidence.

FINDINGS

Fitted HIV incidence for 30 jurisdictions declined from 11.5 in 2010 to 10.0 per 100,000 population by 2015 corresponding with an EAPC of -2.67 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] -2.95, -2.38). Southern states experienced the highest estimated incidence by far throughout this period but upon adjustment for viral suppression and demographics there was a 36% lower incidence rate than Northeast states (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 0.64; 95%CI 0.42, 0.99). For every 10 percentage point (pp) increase in viral suppression there was an adjusted 4% decline in HIV incidence rate in the subsequent year (aRR 0.96; 95%CI 0.93, 0.99). While controlling for viral suppression, HIV incidence rate increased by 42% (aRR 1.42 95%CI 1.31, 1.54) for every 5 pp increase in percent Black race and by 27% (aRR 1.27 95%CI 1.10, 1.48) for every 1 pp increase in percent MSM in states.

INTERPRETATION

A decline in estimated HIV incidence from 2010 to 2015 was associated with increasing viral suppression in the United States. Race and sexual orientation were important HIV acquisition risk factors.

White Counties Stand Apart: The Primacy of Residential Segregation in COVID-19 and HIV Diagnoses

Emerging epidemiological data suggest that white Americans have a lower risk of acquiring COVID-19. Although many studies have pointed to the role of systemic racism in COVID-19 racial/ethnic disparities, few studies have examined the contribution of racial segregation. Residential segregation is associated with differing health outcomes by race/ethnicity for various diseases, including HIV. This commentary documents differing HIV and COVID-19 outcomes and service delivery by race/ethnicity and the crucial role of racial segregation. Using publicly available Census data, we divide US counties into quintiles by percentage of non-Hispanic white residents and examine HIV diagnoses and COVID-19 per 100,000 population. HIV diagnoses decrease as the proportion of white residents increase across US counties. COVID-19 diagnoses follow a similar pattern: Counties with the highest proportion of white residents have the fewest cases of COVID-19 irrespective of geographic region or state political party inclination (i.e., red or blue states). Moreover, comparatively fewer COVID-19 diagnoses have occurred in primarily white counties throughout the duration of the US COVID-19 pandemic. Systemic drivers place racial minorities at greater risk for COVID-19 and HIV. Individual-level characteristics (e.g., underlying health conditions for COVID-19 or risk behavior for HIV) do not fully explain excess disease burden in racial minority communities. Corresponding interventions must use structural- and policy-level solutions to address racial and ethnic health disparities.

Structural Barriers to Women's Sustained Engagement in HIV Care in Southern California

Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the number of women living with HIV (WLHIV) continues to increase. Despite the decrease in HIV diagnosis among women in California, less than half of WLHIV are retained in HIV care. Structural barriers put women at increased risk for delayed HIV diagnosis, delayed entry into HIV care, and poorer treatment outcomes. The objective of this qualitative analysis is to identify how structural barriers negatively impact women's sustained engagement in HIV care in Southern California. WLHIV accessing local HIV support services participated in a qualitative study by completing a semi-structured interview and brief survey between January and April 2015 (n = 30). Poverty, unemployment, housing instability, and needs for transportation emerged as the dominant structural barriers for women when discussing their challenges with sustained engagement in HIV care. System-level interventions that decrease these noted barriers may help improve HIV care continuum for women living in Southern California.

Pathways to housing stability and viral suppression for people living with HIV/AIDS: Findings from the Building a Medical Home for Multiply Diagnosed HIV-positive Homeless Populations initiative

Background

People with HIV with co-occurring substance use and mental health diagnoses who are unstably housed have poorer outcomes for retention in care and viral suppression. Navigation models are a potential strategy to help this vulnerable population obtain the necessary medical and non-medical services across multiple service systems. The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Special Projects of National Significance: “Building a Medical Home for Multiply-Diagnosed HIV-positive Homeless Populations initiative 2012–2017 found that navigation models may be an effective intervention to support people with HIV with unstable housing improve HIV health outcomes. However, there is limited information about the mechanisms by which this intervention works. In this article, we explore the participant and program factors for achieving stable housing at 6 months and how these factors influence HIV health outcomes.

Methods and findings

This was a prospective study of 471 unstably housed people with HIV enrolled in a navigation intervention across nine sites in the United Stated from 2013–2017. All sites provided HIV primary medical care. Eight sites were located in urban areas and one site served a predominantly rural population. Two sites were federally qualified health centers, three were city or county health departments, one site was a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service organization, and three sites were outpatient or mobile clinics affiliated with a university -based or hospital system. Data were collected via interview and medical chart review at baseline, post 6 and 12 months. Type and dose of navigation activities were collected via a standardized encounter form. We used a path analysis model with housing stability at 6 months as the mediator to examine the direct and indirect effects of participant’s socio-demographics and risk factors and navigation on viral suppression and retention in care at 12 months. Housing stability at 6 months was associated with male gender, younger age, viral suppression at baseline, having a lower risk for opiate use, recent homelessness, lower risk of food insecurity, and a longer length of time living with HIV. Participants who increased self-efficacy with obtaining help by 6 months had significantly higher odds of achieving housing stability. Stable housing, fewer unmet needs, moderate to high risk for opiate use, and viral suppression at baseline had a direct effect on viral suppression at 12 months. The intensity of navigation contact had no direct effect on housing stability and a mixed direct effect on viral suppression. Recent diagnosis with HIV, women, greater social support, increased self-efficacy and higher intensity of navigation contact had a direct effect on improved retention in HIV primary care at 12 months.

Conclusions

In this sample of people with HIV who are experiencing homelessness, housing stability had a significant direct path to viral suppression. Navigation activities did not have a direct effect on the path to housing stability but were directly related to retention in care. These results identify key populations and factors to target resources and policies for addressing the health and social unmet needs of people with HIV to achieve housing stability and HIV health outcomes.

Strategies for increasing impact, engagement, and accessibility in HIV prevention programs: suggestions from women in urban high HIV burden counties in the Eastern United States (HPTN 064)

BACKGROUND

Merely having the tools to end HIV is insufficient. Effectively ending the epidemic necessitates addressing barriers that impede engagement in biomedical and behavioral prevention and wide scale implementation and utilization of existing interventions. This qualitative study identifies suggestions for increasing access to, engagement in, and impact of HIV prevention among women living in cities in high HIV burden counties in the eastern US.

METHODS

Data analyzed for the current study were collected via a qualitative sub-study within the HIV Prevention Trials Network Study 064 (HPTN 064), a multisite observational cohort study designed to estimate HIV incidence among women residing in communities with elevated HIV prevalence who also reported personal or partner characteristics associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition. Focus group and interview participants in the qualitative sub-study (N = 288) were from four cities in the eastern US.

RESULTS

Thematic analyses revealed four themes describing women's most frequently stated ideas for improving prevention efforts: 1) Promote Multilevel Empowerment, 2) Create Engaging Program Content, 3) Build "Market Demand", and 4) Ensure Accessibility. We conducted additional analyses to identify contradictory patterns in the data, which revealed an additional three themes: 1) Address Structural Risk Factors, 2) Increase Engagement via Pleasure Promotion, 3) Expand Awareness of and Access to Prevention Resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings may be useful for enhancing women's engagement in and uptake of behavioral and biomedical HIV prevention resources, improving policy, and addressing multilevel risk factors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00995176 , prospectively registered.

Ending the HIV epidemic in the USA: an economic modelling study in six cities

BACKGROUND

The HIV epidemic in the USA is a collection of diverse local microepidemics. We aimed to identify optimal combination implementation strategies of evidence-based interventions to reach 90% reduction of incidence in 10 years, in six US cities that comprise 24·1% of people living with HIV in the USA.

METHODS

In this economic modelling study, we used a dynamic HIV transmission model calibrated with the best available evidence on epidemiological and structural conditions for six US cities: Atlanta (GA), Baltimore (MD), Los Angeles (CA), Miami (FL), New York City (NY), and Seattle (WA). We assessed 23 040 combinations of 16 evidence-based interventions (ie, HIV prevention, testing, treatment, engagement, and re-engagement) to identify combination strategies providing the greatest health benefit while remaining cost-effective. Main outcomes included averted HIV infections, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), total cost (in 2018 US$), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER; from the health-care sector perspective, 3% annual discount rate). Interventions were implemented at previously documented and ideal (90% coverage or adoption) scale-up, and sustained from 2020 to 2030, with outcomes evaluated until 2040.

FINDINGS

Optimal combination strategies providing health benefit and cost-effectiveness contained between nine (Seattle) and 13 (Miami) individual interventions. If implemented at previously documented scale-up, these strategies could reduce incidence by between 30·7% (95% credible interval 19·1-43·7; Seattle) and 50·1% (41·5-58·0; New York City) by 2030, at ICERs ranging from cost-saving in Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami, to $95 416 per QALY in Seattle. Incidence reductions reached between 39·5% (26·3-53·8) in Seattle and 83·6% (70·8-87·0) in Baltimore at ideal implementation. Total costs of implementing strategies across the cities at previously documented scale-up reached $559 million per year in 2024; however, costs were offset by long-term reductions in new infections and delayed disease progression, with Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami projecting cost savings over the 20 year study period.

INTERPRETATION

Evidence-based interventions can deliver substantial public health and economic value; however, complementary strategies to overcome social and structural barriers to HIV care will be required to reach national targets of the ending the HIV epidemic initiative by 2030.

FUNDING

National Institutes of Health.

Use of Recommended Preventive Health Care Services and Variations in HIV Care Among Women With HIV in the United States, 2013-2014: Opportunities for Expanded Partnerships in Support of Ending the HIV Epidemic

BACKGROUND

Despite recommendations for preventive health services and routine HIV care for HIV-positive women, limited data are available regarding uptake of recommendations.

METHODS

We used data from the 2013-2014 data cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project. We calculated weighted estimates and used multivariable logistic regression with adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals to examine associations between preventive health screenings, routine HIV care [based on viral load (VL) and CD4 measures as proxies], and sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Of 2766 women, 47.7% were 50 years and older, 61.7% non-Hispanic black, 37.2% had >high school education, 63.3% had been living with HIV for ≥10 years, 68.4% were living ≤the federal poverty level, 67.3% had public health insurance, 93.8% were prescribed antiretroviral therapy, and 66.1% had sustained/durable suppression (12 months). For women aged 18 years and older, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and sexually transmitted infection screenings were documented for 44.3%, 27.6%, and 34.7%, respectively; 26% did not meet 6-month, and 37% did not meet 12-month, VL and CD4 test measure goals. In multivariable analyses, women with no VLs in the past 6 months were less likely to be durably suppressed, and women who did not have ≥3 CD4 or VL tests (past 12 months) were less likely to be living above the poverty level and more likely to have public insurance compared with private health insurance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Receipt of recommended preventive care was suboptimal. Targeted interventions are warranted to help ensure access to comprehensive HIV care and prevention services for women.

HIV-related outcome disparities between transgender women living with HIV and cisgender people living with HIV served by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In the United States, approximately one-fifth of transgender women are living with HIV-nearly one-half of Black/African American (Black) transgender women are living with HIV. Limited data are available on HIV-related clinical indicators among transgender women. This is because of a lack of robust transgender data collection and research, especially within demographic subgroups. The objective of this study was to examine retention in care and viral suppression among transgender women accessing the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP)-supported HIV care, compared with cisgender women and cisgender men.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We assessed the association between gender (cisgender or transgender) and (1) retention in care and (2) viral suppression using 2016 client-level RWHAP Services Report data. Multivariable modified Poisson regression models adjusting for confounding by age, race, health care coverage, housing, and poverty level, overall and stratified by race/ethnicity, were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In 2016, the RWHAP served 6,534 transgender women (79.8% retained in care, 79.0% virally suppressed), 143,173 cisgender women (83.7% retained in care, 84.0% virally suppressed), and 382,591 cisgender men (81.0% retained in care, 85.9% virally suppressed). Black transgender women were less likely to be retained in care than Black cisgender women (aPR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97, p < 0.001). Black transgender women were also less likely to reach viral suppression than Black cisgender women (aPR: 0.55, 95%I CI: 0.41-0.73, p < 0.001) and Black cisgender men (aPR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.42-0.73, p < 0.001). A limitation of the study is that RWHAP data are collected for administrative, not research, purposes, and clinical outcome measures, including retention and viral suppression, are only reported to the RWHAP for the approximately 60% of RWHAP clients engaged in RWHAP-supported outpatient medical care.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed disparities in HIV clinical outcomes among Black transgender women. These results fill an important gap in national HIV data about transgender people with HIV. Reducing barriers to HIV medical care for transgender women is critical to decrease disparities among this population.

Sustained HIV viral suppression among men who have sex with men in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program: the effect of demographic, psychosocial, provider and neighborhood factors

Background

HIV viral suppression is associated with health benefits for people living with HIV and a decreased risk of HIV transmission to others. The objective was to identify demographic, psychosocial, provider and neighborhood factors associated with sustained viral suppression among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.

Methods

Data from adult men who have sex with men (MSM) enrolled in the Miami-Dade County Ryan White Program (RWP) before 2017 were used. Sustained viral suppression was defined as having an HIV viral load < 200 copies/ml in all viral load tests in 2017. Three-level (individual, medical case management site, and neighborhood) cross-classified mixed-effect models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for sustained viral suppression.

Results

Of 3386 MSM, 90.8% were racial/ethnic minorities, and 84.4% achieved sustained viral suppression. The odds of achieving sustained viral suppression was lower for 18–24 and 25–34 year-old MSM compared with 35–49 year-old MSM, and for non-Latino Black MSM compared with White MSM. Those not enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, and those with current AIDS symptoms and a history of AIDS had lower odds of achieving sustained viral suppression. Psychosocial factors significantly associated with lower odds of sustained viral suppression included drug/alcohol use, mental health symptoms, homelessness, and transportation to appointment needs. Individuals with an HIV physician who serves a larger volume of RWP clients had greater odds of sustained viral suppression. Neighborhood factors were not associated with sustained viral suppression.

Conclusion

Despite access to treatment, age and racial disparities in sustained viral suppression exist among MSM living with HIV. Addressing substance use, mental health, and social services’ needs may improve the ability of MSM to sustain viral suppression long-term. Furthermore, physician characteristics may be associated with HIV outcomes and should be explored further.

Addressing disparities in the health of persons with HIV attributable to unstable housing in the United States: The role of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Amy Griffin and co-authors discuss unstable housing and the response to HIV/AIDS in the United States.