Benjamin T Laffoon1, H Irene Hall, Aruna Surendera Babu, Nanette Benbow, Ling C Hsu, Yunyin W Hu. 1. *Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; †ICF Macro International, Inc, Atlanta, GA; ‡HIV/STI Services Division, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL; §Population Health Division, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA; and ‖Division of HIV and STD Programs, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Residents of urban areas have accounted for the majority of persons diagnosed with HIV disease in the United States. Linking persons recently diagnosed with HIV to primary medical care is an important indicator in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. METHODS: We analyzed data reported to the HIV Surveillance System in 18 urban areas in the United States. Standardized executable SAS programs were distributed to determine the number of HIV cases living through 2008, number of HIV cases diagnosed in 2009, and the percentage of those diagnosed in 2009 who had reported CD4 lymphocyte or HIV viral load test results within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. Data were presented by jurisdiction, age group at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex at birth, birth country, disease stage, and transmission category. RESULTS: By jurisdiction, the percentage of persons diagnosed in 2009 with at least 1 CD4 or HIV viral load test within 3 months of diagnosis ranged from 48.5% to 92.5% (median: 70.9). The percentage of persons linked to care varied by age group and by racial/ethnic groups. Fourteen of the 18 areas reported that the percentage of persons linked to care was greater than 65%, the baseline measure indicated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range in percent linked to HIV medical care was observed between residents of 18 urban areas in the United States with noted age and racial disparities. Routine testing and linkage efforts and intensified prevention efforts should be considered to increase access to primary HIV-related medical care.
BACKGROUND: Residents of urban areas have accounted for the majority of persons diagnosed with HIV disease in the United States. Linking persons recently diagnosed with HIV to primary medical care is an important indicator in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. METHODS: We analyzed data reported to the HIV Surveillance System in 18 urban areas in the United States. Standardized executable SAS programs were distributed to determine the number of HIV cases living through 2008, number of HIV cases diagnosed in 2009, and the percentage of those diagnosed in 2009 who had reported CD4 lymphocyte or HIV viral load test results within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. Data were presented by jurisdiction, age group at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex at birth, birth country, disease stage, and transmission category. RESULTS: By jurisdiction, the percentage of persons diagnosed in 2009 with at least 1 CD4 or HIV viral load test within 3 months of diagnosis ranged from 48.5% to 92.5% (median: 70.9). The percentage of persons linked to care varied by age group and by racial/ethnic groups. Fourteen of the 18 areas reported that the percentage of persons linked to care was greater than 65%, the baseline measure indicated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range in percent linked to HIV medical care was observed between residents of 18 urban areas in the United States with noted age and racial disparities. Routine testing and linkage efforts and intensified prevention efforts should be considered to increase access to primary HIV-related medical care.
Authors: Maunank Shah; Allison Perry; Kathryn Risher; Sunaina Kapoor; Jeremy Grey; Akshay Sharma; Eli S Rosenberg; Carlos Del Rio; Patrick Sullivan; David W Dowdy Journal: Lancet HIV Date: 2016-02-08 Impact factor: 12.767
Authors: Anne M Neilan; Richard Dunville; M Cheryl Bañez Ocfemia; Joshua A Salomon; Jordan A Francke; Alexander J B Bulteel; Li Yan Wang; Katherine K Hsu; Elizabeth A DiNenno; Rochelle P Walensky; Robert A Parker; Kenneth A Freedberg; Andrea L Ciaranello Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 5.012