Expansion of HAART coverage is associated with sustained decreases in HIV/AIDS morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission: the "HIV Treatment as Prevention" experience in a Canadian setting

HIV Serostatus and Having Access to a Physician for Regular Hepatitis C Virus Care Among People Who Inject Drugs

BACKGROUND

People who inject drugs (PWIDs) and who are living with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are vulnerable to a range of health-related harms, including liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. There is limited evidence describing how HIV serostatus shapes access to a physician for regular HCV care among PWID.

SETTING

Data were collected through the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS), the AIDS Care Cohort to evaluate Exposure to Survival Services (ACCESS), and the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), 3 prospective cohorts involving people who use illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada, between 2005 and 2015.

METHODS

Using generalized estimating equations, we examined the relationship between HIV-seropositivity and having access to a physician for regular HCV care. We conducted a mediation analysis to examine whether this association was mediated by increased frequency of engagement in health care.

RESULTS

In total, 1627 HCV-positive PWID were eligible for analysis; 582 (35.8%) were HIV-positive at baseline; and 31 (1.9%) became HIV-positive during follow-up. In multivariable analyses, after adjusting for a range of confounders, HIV serostatus [adjusted odds ratio = 1.99; 95% confidence interval: 1.77 to 2.24] was significantly associated with having access to HCV care. Approximately 26% of the effect was due to mediation.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate a positive relationship between HIV-seropositivity and having access to a physician for regular HCV care, which is partially explained through increased frequency of engagement in health care. These findings highlight the need to address patterns of inequality in access to HCV care among PWID.

Engagement in Maximally-Assisted Therapy and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among a Cohort of Indigenous People Who Use Illicit Drugs

Throughout the world, Indigenous populations experience a disproportionate burden of HIV infection. Maximally-assisted therapy (MAT) is an interdisciplinary care intervention that includes ART dispensation to support individuals with a history of addiction and homelessness. This study sought to longitudinally evaluate the relationship between engagement in MAT and achieving optimal adherence using data from an ongoing cohort of HIV-positive individuals who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada, where HIV/AIDS treatment is offered at no cost. Between December 2005 and November 2016, 354 HIV-positive Indigenous participants were enrolled and data were analyzed using generalized mixed-effects (GLMM) and marginal structural modeling. In both multivariable analyses, engagement in MAT was independently associated with optimal adherence to ART (GLMM: AOR = 4.92, 95% CI 3.18-7.62; marginal structural model: AOR = 5.76, 95% CI 3.34-9.96). MAT-based programmes could be a part of a renewed evidence-base to elevated levels of preventable HIV/AIDS-associated morbidity, mortality and viral transmission among Indigenous peoples in Canada.

"I Wasn't in My Right Mind": Qualitative Findings on the Impact of Alcohol on Condom Use in Patients Living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil, Thailand, and Zambia (HPTN 063)

PURPOSE

There have been significant biomedical improvements in the treatment and prevention of HIV over the past few decades. However, new transmissions continue to occur. Alcohol use is a known barrier to medication adherence and consistent condom use and therefore may affect treatment as prevention (TasP) efforts. The purpose of this study was to further explore how alcohol is associated with condom use and sexual transmission behavior in three international cities.

METHOD

HIV Prevention Trials Network 063 was an observational mixed-methods study of HIV-infected patients currently in care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Chiang Mai, Thailand; and Lusaka, Zambia. Across these three global cities, 80 qualitative interviews were conducted from 2010 to 2012. From these interviews, quotes related to substance use, almost all of which were alcohol, were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify how the use was related to sexual transmission behaviors.

RESULTS

Overall, the theme that alcohol impairs cognitive abilities emerged from the data and included the following subthemes: expectancies, impaired decision-making, loss of control, and less concern for others. Themes specific to international settings and risk subgroups were also identified.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis identified how alcohol influences sexual transmission behavior in HIV patients in three international settings. These findings may provide direction for content development for future secondary prevention interventions to effectively implement TasP internationally.

The Impact of "Churn" on Plasma HIV Burden Within a Population Under Care

Background

Cross-sectional reporting of viral suppression rates within a population underestimates the community viral load (VL) burden. Longitudinal approaches, while addressing cumulative effects, may still underestimate viral burden if “churn” (movement in and out of care) is not incorporated. We examined the impact of churn on the cumulative community HIV viral burden.

Methods

All HIV+ patients followed in 2016–2017 at the Southern Alberta Clinic (Calgary, Canada) were categorized as follows: (1) in continuous care, (2) newly diagnosed, (3) diagnosed elsewhere transferring care, (4) returning to care, (5) lost-to-follow-up, (6) moved care elsewhere, or (7) died. Patient days were classified by VL as suppressed (≤200copies/ml), unsuppressed (>200 copies/ml), and transmittable (>1500 copies/ml).

Results

Of 1934 patients, 78.4% had suppressed VL; 21.4% had ≥1 unsuppressed VL, and 18.7% ≥1 transmittable VL. Of 1 276 507 total patient days in care, 92.1% were spent suppressed, 7.9% unsuppressed (101 459 days), and 6.4% (81 847 days) transmittable. 88.7% of category 1 patients had suppressed VL, 11.3% ≥1 unsuppressed VL, and 8.9% ever a transmittable VL. Of category 2 patients, 90% became suppressed on treatment (mean – 62 days). 38.5% of category 3 patients presented with a transmittable VL. Category 4 and 5 patients combined had high rates of unsuppressed (54.5%) and transmittable (51.2%) VL and, while representing only 6.2% of all patients, they accounted for 37.1% of unsuppressed and 41.5% of all transmittable days.

Conclusion

Focus on VL of patients continuously in care misses those with unsuppressed and transmittable VL in a community. Patients moving in and out of care pose an underappreciated risk for HIV transmissions.

Retention in care and mortality trends among patients receiving comprehensive care for HIV infection: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Studies examining the relation between comprehensive care and health outcomes associated with comorbidities unrelated to HIV infection have focused mainly on the health outcomes of HIV-infected people and comorbid substance use disorders. We aimed to assess the impact of retention in comprehensive HIV infection care on overall, AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related mortality.

METHODS

Using a retrospective cohort design, we collected data for HIV-infected patients aged 19 years or more who first visited a comprehensive HIV infection clinic in Vancouver between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2014. We defined retention in care as visit constancy (whether the patient attended the clinic at least once per given period) of 75% or greater. We used Poisson regression modelling to examine mortality trends. We performed Cox proportional hazards modelling to assess survival by retention during the first year of follow-up and identify factors associated with death.

RESULTS

A total of 2101 patients were included in the study. Of the 2101, 1340 (63.8%) were retained in the first year of care, and 271 (12.9%) died during the study period. Among the 264 cases in which the cause of death was known, although the primary underlying cause of death (74 [28.0%]) was AIDS-related, half of all AIDS-related deaths (37/74 [50%]) occurred early in the study (2004-2007). In later years, most deaths (147/184 [79.9%]) were non-AIDS-related. Overall mortality was significantly reduced among patients with higher retention in care during the first year of follow-up (per 20% increase in visit constancy; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.96). Higher retention was also associated with reduced risk of AIDS-related death (adjusted HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.97).

INTERPRETATION

Although there was an overall trend toward decreased AIDS-related mortality over time, retention in care markedly decreased the likelihood of death. Maintaining patient engagement in comprehensive ancillary care is a patient-centred way of decreasing mortality rates among HIV-infected people.

Effect of early highly active antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among newly diagnosed men who have sex with men living with human immunodeficiency virus in Xi'an, China

BACKGROUND

The number of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China has increased rapidly and thus immediate highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) after diagnosis was implemented as a strategy to reduce the HIV transmission.

METHODS

MSM who were diagnosed with HIV and received HAART between 2013 to 2015 in Xi'an were divided into three groups (>350, 200-350, and <200 cell/μL) according to their baseline CD4+ T cell count. The time of follow-up was calculated from the first date of receiving HAART to December 31, 2016. The CD4+ T cell count was detected with 1 week before or after HAART. The plasma viral loads were tested after 1, 2, and 3 years of treatment.

RESULTS

Of 1442 subjects who received HAART, 690 (47.9%) cases were in >350 cell/μL group, whereas 400 (27.7%) cases and 352 (24.4%) cases were in the 200-350 cell/μL group and <200 cell/μL group, respectively. After 1 year of treatment, the viral suppression rate in the <200 cell/μL group was 91.1%, which was significantly lower than the other two groups. The logistic regression results show that the >350 cell/μL group and 200-350 cell/μL group predicted higher viral suppression rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline CD4+ T cell count more than 350 cell/μL can improve viral suppression among MSM living with HIV. Furthermore, to reduce the transmission risk, the treatment compliance of people living with HIV with high CD4+ T cell levels should be improved, and their diagnosis to the treatment time should be decreased.

Incidence of and risk factors for medical care interruption in people living with HIV in recent years

Objectives

With HIV treatment as a prevention strategy, retention in care remains a key for sustained viral suppression. We sought to identify HIV-infected patients at risk for medical care interruption (MCI) in a high-income country.

Methods

The HIV-infected patients enrolled had to attend the clinic at least twice between January 2010 and October 2014 and were followed up until May 2016. MCI was defined as patients not seeking care in or outside the clinic for at least 18 months, regardless of whether they returned to care after the interruption. The association between MCI and sociodemographic, clinical, and immuno-virological characteristics at HIV diagnosis and during follow-up was assessed using Cox models.

Results

The incidence rate of MCI was 2.5 per 100 persons-years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.3–2.7). MCI was more likely in patients who accessed care >6 months after diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.10–1.54 vs. ≤6 months) or did not report a primary care physician (HR = 2.40; 95% CI = 2.03–2.84). MCI was less likely in patients born in sub-Saharan Africa (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62–0.91 vs. born in France). During follow-up, the risk of MCI increased when the last CD4 count was ≤350 (HR = 2.85, 95% CI = 2.02–4.04 vs. >500 cells/mm³) and when the patient was not on antiretroviral therapy (HR = 3.67, 95% CI = 2.90–4.66).

Conclusions

The incidence of MCI is low in this hospital that serves a large proportion of migrants. Low or no recorded CD4 counts for a medical visit could alert of a higher risk of MCI, even more in patients who accessed HIV care late or did not report a primary care physician.

Correlates of Fatigue Among South African Adolescents Living with HIV and Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

Fatigue among adolescents living with HIV is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the relationships between fatigue and demographic and psychosocial variables to further the understanding of the symptom experience and associated factors. We recruited consecutive attenders at ART clinics in the Western Cape, South Africa (N = 134, age 11-18 years). Participants completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of fatigue, insomnia and mood disturbance. Just under a quarter (24.6%) of adolescents reported elevated levels of fatigue that affected their functioning. The linear combination of age, depression, and insomnia explained 40.6% of the variance in fatigue. Amongst adolescents with HIV, fatigue seems a problematic symptom associated with poor sleep and mood disturbance. Timely identification and management of these potentially disabling symptoms are needed to attain better health outcomes and retention in care in this group. Interventions aimed at ameliorating these symptoms are needed.

Predictors of treatment failure, time to switch and reasons for switching to second line antiretroviral therapy in HIV infected children receiving first line anti-retroviral therapy at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ethiopia

Background

Treatment failure and delay in switching to second line regimen are major concerns in the treatment of HIV infected children in a resource limited setting. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of first line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen failure, reasons and time taken to switch to second line antiretroviral (ARV) medications after treatment failure among HIV-infected children.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted February 2003 to May 2018 in HIV-clinic at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. All HIV infected children ≤15 years of age and who were taking first line ART for at least 6 months were included. Data abstraction format was used to collect the data from patients’ chart and registry. Binary and multivariable logistic regression statistics were used.

Results

Out of 318 enrolled HIV-infected children, the prevalence of treatment failure was found to be 22.6% (72/318), among these 37 (51.4%) had only immunologic failure, 6 (8.3%) had only virologic failure and 24 (33.3%) had both clinical and immunological failure. The mean time taken to modify combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimen was 12.67 (4.96) weeks after treatment failure was confirmed. WHO Stage 3 and 4 [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 3.64, 95% CI 1.76–7.56], not having both parents as primary caretakers [AOR, 2.72 95% CI, 1.05–7.06], negative serology of care takers [AOR, 2.69 95% CI, 1.03–7.03], and cART initiation at 11 month or younger were predicting factors of treatment failure. Of the 141 (47.9%) children who had regimen switching or substitution, treatment failure (44.4%) and replacement of stavudine (d4T) (30.8%) were major reasons. Only 6.6% patients had received PMTCT service.

Conclusion

One fifth of the patients had experienced treatment failure. Advanced WHO stage at baseline, not being taken care of by mother and father, negative sero-status caretakers, and younger age at initiation of cART were the predictors of treatment failure. PMTCT service uptake was very low. There was a significant time gap between detection of treatment failure and initiation of second line cART. Half of the patients encountered regimen switching or substitution of cART due to treatment failure and replacement of stavudine (d4T).

Women, incarceration and HIV: a systematic review of HIV treatment access, continuity of care and health outcomes across incarceration trajectories

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on gendered implications of incarceration for HIV outcomes and engagement in care for women living with HIV (WLWH).

DESIGN

We systematically searched seven bibliographic databases, for peer-reviewed English-language studies, published between 2007 and 2017 reporting on incarceration, women (transgender inclusive) and HIV.

METHODS

Articles were included for evaluation if they reported outcomes for at least one of three measures of interest: viral load, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence or engagement in care among WLWH along incarceration trajectories.

RESULTS

Out of 1119 studies, 24 (2%) met the inclusion criteria. Of these 24 studies, the majority (n = 23) were conducted in the USA, 19 included samples of women and men and seven studies were transgender inclusive. Our review did not reveal clear sex differences in HIV outcomes during periods of incarceration; however, studies reporting postincarceration outcomes demonstrated significant sex disparities in all three outcomes of interest. Following incarceration, women were less likely to be virally suppressed, less likely to achieve optimal ART adherence and less likely to be engaged in care.

CONCLUSION

Despite growing numbers of incarcerated WLWH globally, there is a substantial gap in research examining the impact of incarceration on HIV outcomes for WLWH. Significant sex disparities in HIV outcomes and engagement in care exist along incarceration trajectories for WLWH, especially postincarceration. For improved health outcomes, research is needed to examine the experiences of WLWH throughout incarceration trajectories to develop interventions tailored to the specific needs of WLWH both during and following incarceration.

Prevenção do HIV/Aids em municípios da Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: hiatos entre a política global atual e as respostas locais

As políticas globais e nacional de resposta à Aids têm enfatizado atualmente o tratamento como prevenção, as profilaxias pós e pré-exposição ao HIV e a prevenção combinada. O artigo analisa a tradução dessas políticas no âmbito local, com base em uma pesquisa social em municípios da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro centrada no contexto programático de prevenção e cuidado do HIV/Aids e na vulnerabilidade ao HIV de gays, travestis e prostitutas. Os hiatos entre as diretrizes e os contextos locais são abordados a partir de quatro temas: ampliação da oferta de testagem; desafios das ações focalizadas; distância entre testar e tratar; e o alcance das combinações na prevenção combinada. Buscamos demonstrar a importância da compreensão dos processos sociais que perpassam a implementação das estratégias preconizadas globalmente, que precisam ainda ser consideradas no enfrentamento da epidemia.

Social Problems: A Cost-Effective Psychosocial Prevention Paradigm

This introductory chapter provides a discussion about the need for prevention. As justification for prevention, the chapter highlights the costs of social problems discussed in the book, including academic problems, violence in schools, child maltreatment, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse.

HIV-1 Infection and Type 1 Interferon: Navigating Through Uncertain Waters

HIV-1 remains a chronic viral infection of global health importance. Although HIV-1 replication can be controlled by antiretroviral therapy (ART), there is no cure due to persistence of a long-lived latent reservoir. In addition, people living with HIV-1 who are taking ART still bear signatures of persistent immune activation that include continued type 1 interferon (IFN) signaling. Paradoxically, type 1 IFN exerts a limited role on the control of chronic HIV-1. Indeed, recent reports from humanized mice suggest that type 1 IFN may partly maintain the latent reservoir. In this review, we discuss the molecular interactions between HIV-1 and the type 1 IFN signaling pathway, and examine the efficacy of type 1 IFNs in vivo. We also explore whether limited type 1 IFN manipulation may have a therapeutic role.

The DREAMS core package of interventions: A comprehensive approach to preventing HIV among adolescent girls and young women

In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are 5 to 14 times more likely to be infected with HIV than their male peers. Every day, more than 750 AGYW are infected with HIV. Many factors make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV, including gender-based violence, exclusion from economic opportunities, and a lack of access to secondary school. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is dedicating significant resources through the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) partnership to impact the lives of women and girls based on PEPFAR's mission to help countries achieve epidemic control of HIV/AIDS. The data show that new HIV infections must be reduced in AGYW, or the global community risks losing the extensive progress made towards reaching epidemic control. With support from PEPFAR and private sector partners-the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Girl Effect, Johnson & Johnson and ViiV Healthcare, DREAMS works together with partner governments to deliver a core package of interventions that combines evidence-based approaches that go beyond the health sector, addressing the structural drivers that directly and indirectly increase girls' HIV risk. Not only is DREAMS an effort to reduce new HIV infections, but it aims to reduce other critical vulnerabilities such as gender-based violence. When girls and young women thrive, the effects are felt throughout their families, communities and countries.

Losses to follow-up of HIV-infected people in the Spanish VACH cohort over the period between 2013 and 2014: The importance of sociodemographic factors

OBJECTIVE

To determine the proportion of people infected by HIV or AIDS under follow-up in the VACH Cohort in 2012 who were lost to follow-up from 2013 to 2014, and to establish the sociodemographic features relating to this loss.

METHODS

We considered subjects with less than one recorded consultation per year studied to be lost to follow-up. We built logistic regression models to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), of the variables relating to loss to follow-up.

RESULTS

The overall percentage of losses to follow-up was 15.5% (95% CI 14.9-16-1). The variables associated with loss to follow up were: not receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) (OR: 1.948, 95% CI: 1.651 -2.298), being an immigrant (OR: 1.746; 95%CI: 1.494-2.040), intravenous drug consumption being the mechanism for HIV transmission (OR: 1.498, 95% CI: 1.312-1.711), being unemployed (OR: 1.331; 95% CI: 1.179-1.503), being without a partner (OR: 1.948, 95% CI: 1.651-1.298), belonging to a low socioeconomic class (OR: 1.279; 95% CI: 1.143-1.431), and being attended in a hospital with fewer than 1000 patients under follow-up (OR: 1.257, 95% CI: 1.121-1.457), as well as being under age and having spent less time under follow-up in the Cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

15.5% of the patients were lost to follow-up over a period of 2years in the VACH Cohort. This was associated with a series of sociodemographic and epidemiological variables that it might be useful to identify to design initiatives targeting the populations most likely to abandon the circuits of care, and guide strategies towards achieving Objective 90-90-90.

A review of HIV testing strategies among MSM (2005-2015): Changes and continuities due to the biomedicalization of responses to AIDS

Global AIDS policy points to a new prevention rationale centred on the identification and treatment of people infected with HIV, particularly among the so-called key populations. This study analyses the continuities and changes in HIV testing strategies based on a meta-narrative review of academic output (2005-2015) focusing on men who have sex with men. We reviewed 65 articles based on their prevention approaches, testing strategies and the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations. The analysis found continuities in HIV testing strategies in addition to changes. A new focus is reflected in the expansion and diversification of testing offered, the reduced importance of counselling, an emphasis on condom use associated with test results and on the absence of active participation of NGOs in implementing social responses to AIDS. Our findings indicate a systematic lack of problematising the potential ethical, political and cultural issues surrounding HIV testing as a strategy to control the epidemic. The findings of our study reinforce criticisms of the biomedicalization of current HIV-related policies, and reiterate the importance of combining progress achieved in increasing access to diagnosis and treatment with the historical achievements of social responses to AIDS.

Characteristics of HBV infection in 705 HIV-infected patients under lamivudine-based antiretroviral treatment from three regions in China

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection in three HIV high endemic areas with different modes of HIV transmission and explore the HBV nucleos(t)ide analogue resistance (NUCr) substitutions in this cohort receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Patients and methods

The enrolled 705 HIV-infected patients were from three different regions in China and received lamivudine-based ART for at least 1 year. After screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc and anti-HBc IgM), HBV DNA in plasma of patients positive for HBsAg was tested. The reverse transcriptase (RT) sequences of HBV were analyzed by direct sequencing.

Results

The overall HBsAg-positive rate was 7.1% (50/705) (Guangxi [25/170, 14.7%], Xinjiang [13/257, 5.1%], and Henan [12/278, 4.3%]). The age, transmission route, and ethnic status were found to be associated with HIV/HBV co-infection. We obtained 23 HBV RT sequences belonging to genotypes B (9/23, 39.1%), C (13/23, 56.5%), and D (1/23, 4.4%). About 65.2% (15/23) of RT sequences harbored NUCr substitutions, all of which had combination substitution patterns. Patients with HBV NUCr had significantly higher HBV DNA level and ratio of HBeAg-positive than those without NUCr. None of the patients was found to have both lamivudine-resistant HBV and HIV.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that HBsAg-positive rate in the studied patients was similar to that of the general population in each of the studied regions, where the age, transmission route, and ethnic status might also play roles in HIV/HBV co-infection. The HBV combination NUCr substitutions were common in co-infected patients under ART. Monitoring of HBV infection and NUCr substitutions in HIV-infected patients would help in providing better clinical decisions and management, thus lowering patients’ risks to develop end-stage liver diseases.

Public prescription drug plan coverage for antiretrovirals and the potential cost to people living with HIV in Canada: a descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Antiretrovirals are expensive and people living with HIV may experience a range of financial burdens when accessing these medications. Our aim was to describe the policy of all Canadian public drug insurance programs for antiretroviral drugs and illustrated how these policies might affect patients' annual out-of-pocket expenditures.

METHODS

In December 2017, we reviewed public drug programs offering antiretroviral coverage in Canada using government websites to summarize eligibility criteria. We estimated the annual out-of-pocket costs incurred by people living with HIV by applying the cost-sharing rules to 2 hypothetical cases, a single man and a married woman with a net household income of $39 000 and $80 000, respectively, receiving identical prescriptions in different jurisdictions.

RESULTS

We observed substantial variation in the subsidy provided based mainly on geography, income and age. All 5 federal programs and 6 of 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions offered universal coverage. In the remaining regions, patients spend up to several thousand dollars annually depending on income (Manitoba), age and income (Ontario, Saskatchewan) and age, income and drug costs (Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador). We found the greatest variation for our higher income case, with out-of-pocket expenses ranging from 0 to over 50% of the antiretroviral cost.

INTERPRETATION

There is considerable inter- and intra-jurisdiction heterogeneity in the cost-sharing policies for antiretrovirals across Canada's public drug programs. Policy reforms that either eliminate or set national standards for copayments, deductibles or premiums would minimize variation and could reduce the risk of cost-associated non-adherence to HIV therapy.

Female Gender and HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors Among People Living with HIV Who Have Ever Used Injection Drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia

Among persons who inject drugs, women have a higher HIV prevalence (than men) in many settings. Understanding how gender affects risk for infection among HIV-negative, and transmission among HIV-positive people who currently or previously injected drugs is key to designing effective prevention and treatment programs. We analyzed data from 291 persons living with HIV who had ever injected drugs. Participants were drawn from the Russia Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS cohort (2012-2015) to examine associations between female gender and HIV transmission risk. Primary outcomes were sharing drug injecting equipment (e.g., needle/syringes) and condomless sex. Secondary outcomes were alcohol use before sharing drug injecting equipment; before condomless sex; and both sharing drug injecting equipment and condomless sex. Logistic regression models assessed associations between gender and outcomes, controlling for demographics, partner HIV status and use of antiretroviral treatment. Female gender was not significantly associated with sharing drug injecting equipment [aOR = 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-2.46, p value = 0.18] but was associated with condomless sex (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.12-3.23, p = 0.02) in adjusted models. Female gender was not significantly associated with any secondary outcomes. Better understanding of risky sex and drug use behaviors among people who currently or previously injected drugs can support the design of effective gender-tailored HIV prevention interventions.

Cumulative plasma HIV burden disparities among adults in HIV care: implications for HIV transmission in the era of treatment as prevention

OBJECTIVE

To characterize disparities in cumulative plasma HIV burden in a sample of adults accessing HIV care in San Francisco, California.

DESIGN

Observational cohort and supplemental HIV surveillance data.

METHODS

Data from the San Francisco Medical Monitoring Project 2012-2014 cycles and HIV surveillance data were used to create an analytic cohort followed for 2 years. Matched HIV viral load test results from HIV surveillance were used to create five viral outcome measures: any unsuppressed viral load (>200 copies/ml), any transmittable viral load (>1500 copies/ml), person-time spent unsuppressed, person-time spent transmittable, and 2-year viremia copy-years, a measure of cumulative plasma HIV burden. Rao-Scott chi-squares and analysis of variance examined differences in durable suppression and mean percentage time spent unsuppressed and transmittable. Weighted linear regression was used to describe differences in cumulative HIV burden.

RESULTS

Adults receiving HIV care spent approximately 12% of the 2-year time period with an unsuppressed viral load and approximately 7% of the time at a transmittable viral level. Factors independently associated with higher cumulative HIV viremia in an adjusted model included trans women identity, younger age, lower CD4 cell count, and a history of homelessness, incarceration, not taking ART, and nonadherence to ART.

CONCLUSION

Although 95% of the cohort of adults in HIV care in San Francisco self-reported ART use during MMP interview, they spent on average almost 1 month per year at a transmittable viral level. We identified characteristics of those who were more likely to have higher viral burden, highlighting priorities for resource allocation to reduce onward HIV transmission.

Inequalities in HAART uptake and differential survival according to exposure category in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Despite substantial improvement in prognosis and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Brazil, inequalities in access to treatment remain. We assessed the impact of these inequalities on survival in Rio de Janeiro over a 12-year period (2000/11). Data were merged from four databases that comprise the national AIDS monitoring system: SINAN-AIDS (Brazilian Information System for Notificable Diseases; AIDS cases), SISCEL (laboratory tests), SICLOM (electronic dispensing system), and SIM (Brazilian Mortality Information System), using probabilistic linkage. Cox regressions were fitted to assess the impact of HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) on AIDS-related mortality among men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and heterosexuals diagnosed with AIDS, between 2000 and 2011, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Among 15,420 cases, 60.7% were heterosexuals, 36.1% MSM and 3.2% PWID. There were 2,807 (18.2%) deaths and the median survival time was 6.29. HAART and CD4+ > 200 at baseline were associated with important protective effects. Non-whites had a 33% higher risk of dying in consequence of AIDS than whites. PWID had a 56% higher risk and MSM a 11% lower risk of dying of AIDS than heterosexuals. Non-white individuals, those with less than eight years of formal education, and PWID, were more likely to die of AIDS and less likely to receive HAART. Important inequalities persist in access to treatment, resulting in disparate impacts on mortality among exposure categories. Despite these persistent disparities, mortality decreased significantly during the period for all categories under analysis, and the overall positive impact of HAART on survival has been dramatic.

Using Geosocial Networking Apps to Understand the Spatial Distribution of Gay and Bisexual Men: Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

While services tailored for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) may provide support for this vulnerable population, planning access to these services can be difficult due to the unknown spatial distribution of gbMSM outside of gay-centered neighborhoods. This is particularly true since the emergence of geosocial networking apps, which have become a widely used venue for meeting sexual partners.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of our research was to estimate the spatial density of app users across Metro Vancouver and identify the independent and adjusted neighborhood-level factors that predict app user density.

METHODS

This pilot study used a popular geosocial networking app to estimate the spatial density of app users across rural and urban Metro Vancouver. Multiple Poisson regression models were then constructed to model the relationship between app user density and areal population-weighted neighbourhood-level factors from the 2016 Canadian Census and National Household Survey.

RESULTS

A total of 2021 app user profiles were counted within 1 mile of 263 sampling locations. In a multivariate model controlling for time of day, app user density was associated with several dissemination area-level characteristics, including population density (per 100; incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), average household size (IRR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11-0.62), average age of males (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98), median income of males (IRR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.99), proportion of males who were not married (IRR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.13), proportion of males with a postsecondary education (IRR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10), proportion of males who are immigrants (IRR 1.04, 95% CI 1.004-1.07), and proportion of males living below the low-income cutoff level (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study demonstrates how the combination of geosocial networking apps and administrative datasets might help care providers, planners, and community leaders target online and offline interventions for gbMSM who use apps.

2018 update to the HIV-TRePS system: the development of new computational models to predict HIV treatment outcomes, with or without a genotype, with enhanced usability for low-income settings

Objectives

Optimizing antiretroviral drug combination on an individual basis can be challenging, particularly in settings with limited access to drugs and genotypic resistance testing. Here we describe our latest computational models to predict treatment responses, with or without a genotype, and compare their predictive accuracy with that of genotyping.

Methods

Random forest models were trained to predict the probability of virological response to a new therapy introduced following virological failure using up to 50 000 treatment change episodes (TCEs) without a genotype and 18 000 TCEs including genotypes. Independent data sets were used to evaluate the models. This study tested the effects on model accuracy of relaxing the baseline data timing windows, the use of a new filter to exclude probable non-adherent cases and the addition of maraviroc, tipranavir and elvitegravir to the system.

Results

The no-genotype models achieved area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.82 and 0.81 using the standard and relaxed baseline data windows, respectively. The genotype models achieved AUC values of 0.86 with the new non-adherence filter and 0.84 without. Both sets of models were significantly more accurate than genotyping with rules-based interpretation, which achieved AUC values of only 0.55-0.63, and were marginally more accurate than previous models. The models were able to identify alternative regimens that were predicted to be effective for the vast majority of cases in which the new regimen prescribed in the clinic failed.

Conclusions

These latest global models predict treatment responses accurately even without a genotype and have the potential to help optimize therapy, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Trends in engagement in the cascade of care for opioid use disorder, Vancouver, Canada, 2006-2016

BACKGROUND

A cascade of care framework has been proposed to identify and address implementation gaps in addiction medicine. Using this framework, we characterized temporal trends in engagement in care for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Vancouver, Canada.

METHODS

Using data from two cohorts of people who use drugs, we assessed the yearly proportion of daily opioid users achieving four sequential stages of the OUD cascade of care [linkage to addiction care; linkage to opioid agonist treatment (OAT); retention in OAT; and stability] between 2006 and 2016. We evaluated temporal trends of cascade indicators, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, HIV/HCV status, substance use patterns, and social-structural exposures.

RESULTS

We included 1615 daily opioid users. Between 2006 and 2016, we observed improvements in linkage to care (from 73.2% to 78.9%, p = <0.001), linkage to (from 69.2% to 70.6%, p = 0.011) and retention in OAT (from 29.1% to 35.5%, p = <0.001), and stability (from 10.4% to 17.1%, p = <0.001). In adjusted analyses, later calendar year of observation was associated with increased odds of linkage to care (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.02, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.01-1.04), retention in OAT (AOR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04) and stability (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), but not with linkage to OAT (AOR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98-1.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Temporal improvements in OUD cascade of care indicators were observed. However, only a third of participants were retained in OAT in 2016. These findings suggest the need for novel approaches to improve engagement in care for OUD to address the escalating opioid-related overdose crisis.

Federal Response to the Opioid Crisis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In light of the current crisis in opioid involved overdose deaths, the federal Department of Health and Human Services operating divisions are working together to implement a data-driven, research-based strategy to reduce opioid misuse and its consequences.

RECENT FINDINGS

The strategy has five elements: (1) strengthening public health data collection and reporting; (2) advancing the practice of pain management; (3) improving access to addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services; (4) increasing availability of overdose-reversing drugs; and (5) supporting cutting-edge research in treatment of pain, opioid use disorder, and associated conditions. The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a concerted, coordinated evidence-based effort across department divisions to reduce opioid misuse, prevalence of opioid use disorder, and reduce deaths due to opioid use.

Health Care Provider Utilization and Cost of an mHealth Intervention in Vulnerable People Living With HIV in Vancouver, Canada: Prospective Study

Background

Improving adherence to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can be challenging, especially among vulnerable populations living with HIV. Even where cART is available free of charge, social determinants of health act as barriers to optimal adherence rates. Patient-centered approaches exploiting mobile phone communications (mHealth) have been shown to improve adherence to cART and promote achievement of suppressed HIV plasma viral loads. However, data are scarce on the health care provider (HCP) time commitments and health care costs associated with such interventions. This knowledge is needed to inform policy and programmatic implementation.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to approximate the resources required and to provide an estimate of the costs associated with running an mHealth intervention program to improve medication adherence in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods

This prospective study of HCP utilization and costs was embedded within a repeated measures effectiveness study of the WelTel short-message service (SMS) mHealth program. The study included 85 vulnerable, nonadherent PLWH in Vancouver, Canada, and resulted in improved medication adherence and HIV plasma viral load among participants. Study participants were provided mobile phones with unlimited texting (where required) and received weekly bidirectional text messages to inquire on their status for one year. A clinic nurse triaged and managed participants' responses, immediately logging all patient interactions by topic, HCP involvement, and time dedicated to addressing issues raised by participants. Interaction costs were determined in Canadian dollars based on HCP type, median salary within our health authority, and their time utilized as part of the intervention.

Results

Participant-identified problems within text responses included health-related, social, and logistical issues. Taken together, management of problems required a median of 43 minutes (interquartile range, IQR 17-99) of HCP time per participant per year, for a median yearly cost of Can $36.72 (IQR 15.50-81.60) per participant who responded with at least one problem. The clinic nurse who monitored the texts solved or managed 65% of these issues, and the remaining were referred to a variety of other HCPs. The total intervention costs, including mobile phones, plans, and staffing were a median Can $347.74/highly vulnerable participant per year for all participants or Can $383.18/highly vulnerable participant per year for those who responded with at least one problem.

Conclusions

Bidirectional mHealth programs improve HIV care and treatment outcomes for PLWH. Knowledge about the HCP cost associated, here less than Can $50/year, provides stakeholders and decision makers with information relevant to determining the feasibility and sustainability of mHealth programs in a real-world setting.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02603536; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02603536 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70IYqKUjV).

The Relationship Between Risk Perception and Frequency of HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women, Lima, Peru

HIV infections in Peru are concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW). HIV testing rates among them remain low, delaying entrance into care. We assessed the prevalence of frequent HIV testing (at least every 6 months) and associated factors among 310 MSM and TW who attend sexual health clinics in Lima, Peru, and who reported that they were HIV seronegative or unaware of their status. Only 39% of participants tested frequently, and 22% had never tested; 29% reported that they were at low or no risk for acquiring HIV. Reporting low or no risk for acquiring HIV was associated with frequent testing (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.53, 95% CI 1.13-2.08); those reporting unprotected anal sex were less likely to test frequently (aPR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.87). HIV prevalence was 12% and did not vary by risk perception categories. This at-risk population tests infrequently and may not understand the risk of having unprotected sex.

Patterns of Online and Offline Connectedness Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

This study examined patterns of connectedness among 774 sexually-active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), aged ≥ 16 years, recruited using respondent-driven sampling in Metro Vancouver. Latent class analysis examined patterns of connectedness including: attendance at gay venues/events (i.e., bars/clubs, community groups, pride parades), social time spent with GBM, use of online social and sex seeking apps/websites, and consumption of gay media. Multinomial regression identified correlates of class membership. A three-class LCA solution was specified: Class 1 "Socialites" (38.8%) were highly connected across all indicators. Class 2 "Traditionalists" (25.7%) were moderately connected, with little app/website-use. Class 3 "Techies" (35.4%) had high online connectedness and relatively lower in-person connectedness. In multivariable modelling, Socialites had higher collectivism than Traditionalists, who had higher collectivism than Techies. Socialites also had higher annual incomes than other classes. Techies were more likely than Traditionalists to report recent serodiscordant or unknown condomless anal sex and HIV risk management practices (e.g., ask their partner's HIV status, get tested for HIV). Traditionalists on the other hand were less likely to practice HIV risk management and had lower HIV/AIDS stigma scores than Socialites. Further, Traditionalists were older, more likely to be partnered, and reported fewer male sex partners than men in other groups. These findings highlight how patterns of connectedness relate to GBM's risk management.

Early mortality among children and adults in antiretroviral therapy programs in Southwest Ethiopia, 2003-15

Background

Several studies reported that the majority of deaths in HIV-infected people are documented in their early antiretroviral therapy (ART) follow-ups. Early mortality refers to death of people on ART for follow up period of below 24 months due to any cause. The current study assessed predictors of early HIV mortality in Southwest Ethiopia.

Methods

We have conducted a retrospective analysis of 5299 patient records dating from June 2003- March 2015. To estimate survival time and compare the time to event among the different groups of patients, we used a Kaplan Meir curve and log-rank test. To identify mortality predictors, we used a cox regression analysis. We used SPSS-20 for all analyses.

Results

A total of 326 patients died in the 12 years follow-up period contributing to 6.2% cumulative incidence and 21.7 deaths per 1000 person-year observations incidence rate. Eighty-nine percent of the total deaths were documented in the first two years follow up—an early-term ART follow up. Early HIV mortality rates among adults were 50% less in separated, divorced or widowed patients compared with never married patients, 1.6 times higher in patients with baseline CD4 count <200 cells/μL compared to baseline CD4 count ≥200 cells/μL, 1.5 times higher in patients with baseline WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 compared to baseline WHO clinical stage 1 or 2, 2.1 times higher in patients with immunologic failure compared with no immunologic failure, 60% less in patients with fair or poor compared with good adherence, 2.9 times higher in patients with bedridden functional status compared to working functional status, and 2.7 times higher with patients who had no history of HIV testing before diagnosis compared to those who had history of HIV testing. Most predictors of early mortality remained the same to the predictors of an overall HIV mortality. When discontinuation was assumed as an event, the predictors of an overall HIV mortality included age between 25–50 years, base line CD4 count, developing immunologic failure, bedridden functional status, and no history of HIV testing before diagnosis.

Conclusions

The great majority of deaths were documented in the first two years of ART, and several predictors of early HIV mortality were also for the overall mortality when discontinuation was assumed as event or censored. Considering the above population, interventions to improve HIV program in the first two years of ART follow up should be improved.

Patterns of Transmitted Drug Resistance and Virological Response to First-line Antiretroviral Treatment Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected People Who Use Illicit Drugs in a Canadian Setting

Background

Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) may compromise response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, there are limited data on TDR patterns and impacts among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD).

Methods

Data were drawn from 2 prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada. We characterized patterns of TDR among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected PWUD, and assessed its impacts on first-line ART virological outcomes.

Results

Between 1996 and 2015, among 573 ART-naive PWUD (18% with recent HIV infection), the overall TDR prevalence was 9.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.3%-12.2%), with an increasing trend over time, from 8.5% in 1996-1999 to 21.1% in 2010-2015 (P = .003), mainly driven by resistance to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). TDR-associated mutations were more common for NNRTIs (5.4%), followed by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (3.0%) and protease inhibitors (1.9%). TDR prevalence was lower among recently infected PWUD (adjusted odds ratio, 0.39 [95% CI, .15-.87]). Participants with TDR had higher risk of virological failure than those without TDR (log-rank P = .037) in the first year of ART.

Conclusions

Between 1996 and 2015, TDR prevalence increased significantly among PWUD in Vancouver. Higher risk of virological failure among PWUD with TDR may be explained by some inappropriate ART prescribing, as well as undetected minority resistant variants in participants with chronic HIV infection. Our findings support baseline resistance testing early in the course of HIV infection to guide ART selection among PWUD in our setting.

Changes in attitudes, risky practices, and HIV and syphilis prevalence among female sex workers in Brazil from 2009 to 2016

BACKGROUND

The present study aims at investigating the progress made toward controlling the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic among female sex workers (FSW) from 2009 to 2016.

METHODS

The baseline of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) study among FSW was carried out in 2009, in 10 Brazilian municipalities. In 2016, information on FSW were collected in 12 municipalities. The analyses took into account the dependence among observations, resulting from the recruitment chains, and the unequal probabilities of selection, resulting from the different network sizes. We analyzed changes in attitudes and risky behavior practices as well as variations in HIV and syphilis prevalence based on the comparison of 95% confidence intervals for each estimate.

RESULTS

Information on 2523 (2009) and 4245 (2016) FSW were analyzed. Commercial sex debut shifted to younger ages: while in 2009 the proportion of women who started sex work under 18 years old was 28.3%, in 2016 this percentage rose to 38.3%. The proportion of FSW affiliated to a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in defense of their rights (14.0%), in 2009, decreased to 7.8%, in 2016, as well as the proportion of FSW who received counseling on sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the past 6 months, from 47.5% to 24.4%. Relevant improvements were found for HIV testing in the last 12 months (from 20.3% to 39.3%). The proportions of those who were never tested for syphilis dropped from 57.9% to 48.5%. However, an opposite decreasing trend was found for the Pap smear examination in the last 12 months, decreasing from 43.6% to 31.5%. Regular condom use with clients significantly increased in the period. Regarding HIV prevalence, the 5% level was sustained and no significant differences were found, but syphilis prevalence was found to be more than 3 times higher in 2016 (8.5%) than in 2009 (2.4%).

DISCUSSION

Many are the challenges to be faced in attempting to reverse the upward trend of syphilis among FSW in Brazil. Despite the progress in condom distribution free of charge, it is necessary to increase awareness campaigns, emphasize the use, reaffirm STI counseling, and reiterate the need of regular syphilis screening in this key population group.

Sexual Self-Efficacy and Gender: A Review of Condom Use and Sexual Negotiation Among Young Men and Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sexual self-efficacy (SSE), one's perceived control of or confidence in the ability to perform a given sexual outcome, predicts sexual behavior; however, important questions remain regarding whether gender modifies observed associations. In a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed HIV-prevention literature focusing on youth (ages 10 to 25) in sub-Saharan Africa, we measured and assessed the influence of SSE on condom use and sexual refusal, overall and by gender. Our results, after reviewing 63 publications, show that SSE is inconsistently measured. Most studies measured condom use self-efficacy (CUSE) (96.8%) and/or sexual refusal self-efficacy (SRSE) (63.5%). On average, young men had higher CUSE than young women, while young women had higher SRSE than young men. While cross-sectional studies reported an association between high SSE and sexual behaviors, this association was not observed in interventions, particularly among young women who face a disproportionate risk of HIV acquisition. In all, 25% of intervention studies demonstrated that fostering CUSE increased condom use among young men only, and one of two studies demonstrated that higher SRSE led to reduced frequency of sexual activity for both men and women. Future research and HIV-prevention interventions must be gender targeted, consider improving CUSE for young men, and move beyond limited individual-level sexual behavior change frameworks.

HIV treatment as prevention among people who inject drugs - a re-evaluation of the evidence

Background

Population-level associations between community measures of HIV viral load and HIV incidence have been interpreted as evidence for HIV anti-retroviral treatment (ART) as prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID). However, investigation of concurrent HCV and HIV incidence trends allows examination of alternative explanations for the fall in HIV incidence. We estimate the contribution of ART and reductions in injecting risk for reducing HIV incidence in Vancouver between 1996 and 2007.

Methods

A deterministic model of HIV and HCV transmission among PWID was calibrated to the baseline (1996) HIV and HCV epidemic among PWID in Vancouver. While incorporating parameter uncertainty, the model projected what levels of ART protection and decreases in injecting risk could reproduce the observed reduction in HIV and HCV incidence for 1996-2007, and so what impact would have been achieved with just ART or just reductions in injecting risk.

Results

Model predictions suggest the estimated reduction (84%) in HCV incidence for 1996-2007 required a 59% (2.5-97.5 percentile range 49-76%) reduction in injecting risk, which accounted for nine-tenths of the observed decrease in HIV incidence; the remainder was achieved with a moderate ART efficacy for reducing sexual HIV infectivity (70%, 51-89%) and an uncertain ART efficacy for reducing injection-related HIV infectivity (44%, 0-96%). Despite this uncertainty, projections suggest that the decrease in injecting risk reduced HIV incidence by 76% (63-85%) and ART further reduced HIV incidence by 8% (2-19%), or on its own by 3% (-34-37%).

Conclusions

Observed declines in HIV incidence in Vancouver between 1996 and 2007 should be seen as a success for intensive harm reduction, whereas ART probably played a small role.

HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection analysis using surveillance data from 15 US states and two cities

Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality in the absence of clinical management, making identification of these cases crucial. We examined characteristics of HIV and viral hepatitis coinfections by using surveillance data from 15 US states and two cities. Each jurisdiction used an automated deterministic matching method to link surveillance data for persons with reported acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, to persons reported with HIV infection. Of the 504 398 persons living with diagnosed HIV infection at the end of 2014, 2.0% were coinfected with HBV and 6.7% were coinfected with HCV. Of the 269 884 persons ever reported with HBV, 5.2% were reported with HIV. Of the 1 093 050 persons ever reported with HCV, 4.3% were reported with HIV. A greater proportion of persons coinfected with HIV and HBV were males and blacks/African Americans, compared with those with HIV monoinfection. Persons who inject drugs represented a greater proportion of those coinfected with HIV and HCV, compared with those with HIV monoinfection. Matching HIV and viral hepatitis surveillance data highlights epidemiological characteristics of persons coinfected and can be used to routinely monitor health status and guide state and national public health interventions.

Associations between sexual partner number and HIV risk behaviors: implications for HIV prevention efforts in a Treatment as Prevention (TasP) environment

Previous research indicates that gay and bisexual men (GBM) have significantly more sexual partners than same-aged heterosexual men and women. As a result, some HIV intervention programs have focused on partner reduction. However, new research findings question the relevance of sexual partner number as a sexual risk measure for GBM given Treatment as Prevention (TasP) programs and new seroadaptive strategies which have led to lower GBM community viral load and new HIV prevention behaviors. To assess if sexual partner number continues to remain an important measure of sexual risk for GBM living in a city that actively promotes TasP as provincial policy, we analysed cross-sectional data from 719 GBM recruited through respondent-driven sampling in Vancouver, Canada. Multivariable negative binomial regression analysis showed that partner number was significantly associated with previously identified HIV risk factors including condomless anal intercourse with serodiscordant and/or unknown serostatus partners, using sex toys, attending group sex events, receiving money for sex, and sex drug use. These results indicate that sexual partner number remains an important proximate HIV risk measure. However, more nuanced measures of HIV treatment status and greater understanding of the possible causes of increased partner number among GBM are needed.

Prosecution of non-disclosure of HIV status: Potential impact on HIV testing and transmission among HIV-negative men who have sex with men

Background

Non-disclosure criminal prosecutions among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are increasing, even though transmission risk is low when effective antiretroviral treatment (ART) is used. Reduced HIV testing may reduce the impact of HIV “test and treat” strategies. We aimed to quantify the potential impact of non-disclosure prosecutions on HIV testing and transmission among MSM.

Methods

MSM attending an HIV and primary care clinic in Toronto completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview questionnaire. HIV-negative participants were asked concern over non-disclosure prosecution altered their likelihood of HIV testing. Responses were characterized using cross-tabulations and bivariate logistic regressions. Flow charts modelled how changes in HIV testing behaviour impacted HIV transmission rates controlling for ART use, condom use and HIV status disclosure.

Results

150 HIV-negative MSM were recruited September 2010 to June 2012. 7% (9/124) were less or much less likely to be tested for HIV due to concern over future prosecution. Bivariate regression showed no obvious socio/sexual demographic characteristics associated with decreased willingness of HIV testing to due concern about prosecution. Subsequent models estimated that this 7% reduction in testing could cause an 18.5% increase in community HIV transmission, 73% of which was driven by the failure of HIV-positive but undiagnosed MSM to access care and reduce HIV transmission risk by using ART.

Conclusions

Fear of prosecution over HIV non-disclosure was reported to reduce HIV testing willingness by a minority of HIV-negative MSM in Toronto; however, this reduction has the potential to significantly increase HIV transmission at the community level which has important public health implications.

Trends in discharges from the HIV/AIDS ward at a tertiary Canadian Hospital from 2005 to 2014

Advances in HIV therapies have transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic disease. Accordingly, hospital admission trends among people living with HIV may have evolved over time. This study describes discharge diagnoses from the dedicated HIV/AIDS ward at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. A retrospective database review of admissions to the HIV/AIDS ward between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2014 was conducted. Primary discharge diagnoses were manually categorized by condition and reviewed by two physicians. Data were analysed in 12-month intervals. Trends were fitted using generalized estimating equations. A total of 1595 individuals with 3919 admissions were included. The median age was 46 years, 77.1% identified as male, 63.6% had a history of injection drug use (IDU) and 61.8% had a history of hepatitis C virus exposure. The most common reasons for admission included non-opportunistic respiratory tract infections (18.2%), cellulitis (7.3%), gastroenteritis (6.0%), endocarditis/bacteremia (4.9%) and bone/joint infections (3.5%). The proportion of admissions attributable to opportunistic infections declined from 16.2% in 2005 to 5.5% in 2014. Over this period, the proportion of individuals on antiretroviral therapy and with virologic suppression increased (odds ratio 1.19 [95% confidence interval 1.16, 1.23] and 1.22 [95% confidence interval 1.17, 1.26], respectively). These results demonstrate a decline in admissions related to opportunistic infections but increased admissions due to other infections among people living with HIV. Preventive and outpatient care for respiratory infections and complications of IDU may further improve health care outcomes and decrease hospital admissions in this setting.

HIV Testing in Men who have Sex with Men: A Follow-up Review of the Qualitative Literature since 2010

The landscape of HIV testing has changed significantly in recent years following the rise in importance of the 'treatment as prevention' strategy and advancements in new HIV testing and prevention technologies. This review provides a synthesis of qualitative research findings published since 2010 on preferences and practices of men who have sex with men (MSM) surrounding HIV testing in high-income settings. MSM are one of the hardest groups to reach with standard or conventional HIV testing approaches. To develop innovative testing strategies for this particular group, a good understanding of their concerns, barriers and facilitators of accessing HIV testing is needed. This updated review provides valuable information for improving existing programs and designing new testing services for MSM.

Socio-economic status and time trends associated with early ART initiation following primary HIV infection in Montreal, Canada: 1996 to 2015

INTRODUCTION

Guidelines regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in HIV infection have varied over time, with the 2015 World Health Organization recommendation suggesting ART initiation at the time of diagnosis regardless of CD4 T-cell counts. Herein, we investigated the influence of socio-demographic and clinical factors in addition to time trends on early ART initiation among participants of the Montreal Primary HIV Infection Study.

METHODS

The Montreal Primary HIV Infection Study is a prospective cohort established in three community medical centres (CMCs) and two university medical centres (UMCs). Recently diagnosed HIV-infected adults were categorized as receiving early (vs. delayed) ART if ART was initiated within 180 days of the baseline visit. Associations between early ART initiation and socio-demographic, socio-economic and behavioural information were examined. Independent associations of factors linked with early ART initiation were determined using multivariable binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 348 participants had a documented date of HIV acquisition of <180 days. The median interquartile range (IQR) age of participants was 35 (28; 42) years and the majority were male (96%), having paid employment (63%), men who have sex with men (MSM) (78%) and one to four sexual partners in the last three months (70%). Participants presented with a median IQR HIV plasma viral load of 4.6 (3.7; 5.3) log10 copies/ml, CD4 count of 510 (387; 660) cells/μl and were recruited in CMCs (52%) or UMCs (48%). Early ART initiation was observed in 47% of the participants and the trend followed a V-shaped curve with peaks in 1996 to 1997 (89%) and 2013 to 2015 (88%) with a dip in 2007 to 2009 (22%). Multivariable analyses showed that having a paid employment adjusted odds ratio (aOR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.19, 4.95), lower CD4 count (aOR per 50 cell increase: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87, 0.99) and care at UMCs (aOR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.90) were independently associated with early ART initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Early ART initiation during primary HIV infection was associated with diminished biological prognostic factors and calendar time mirroring evolution of treatment guidelines. In addition, socio-economic factors such as having a paid employment, contribute to early ART initiation in the context of universal access to care in Canada.

Belief in Treatment as Prevention and Its Relationship to HIV Status and Behavioral Risk

BACKGROUND

We evaluated attitudes toward treatment as prevention (TasP) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in Vancouver, Canada.

METHODS

Sexually active GBM, aged ≥16 years, were recruited between 2012 and 2015 using respondent-driven sampling. At each 6-month follow-up, participants completed a computer-administered questionnaire and nursing visit. Repeated-measures latent class analysis, grouped by self-reported serostatus, identified patterns of TasP endorsement by considering TasP-related awareness, attitudes, and behavior. Binary logistic regression identified covariates of class membership. Bivariate interactions with visit number identified factors associated with longitudinal changes in class membership.

RESULTS

A total of 774 men provided 2590 observations. Of these, 698 enrolled in the cohort, 575 had at least 1 follow-up visit. Among these, the median follow-up time was 1.98 years (Q1-Q2: 1.49-2.49 years). Repeated-measures latent class analysis identified 3 classes: "unaware" (64.2% HIV negative/unknown vs. 29.2% of HIV positive), "skeptical" (29.7% vs. 23.1%), and "believing" (6.1% vs. 47.7%). Membership in classes representing higher TasP endorsement was associated with greater odds of condomless anal sex and having more sexual partners. Age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, substance use, and social time spent with other GBM were also associated with class membership. Longitudinally, class membership was stable among HIV-positive men but shifted toward greater TasP endorsement among HIV-negative/unknown men. For HIV-negative/unknown men, increasing endorsement was positively associated with greater education, being employed, being in a relationship, and substance use and inversely associated with recent serodiscordant condomless anal sex or sexually transmitted infection diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Over time, disparities in TasP diffusion by HIV status have lessened, although continue to persist across other key social strata.

HIV Prevention Efforts and Incidence of HIV in Uganda

BACKGROUND

To assess the effect of a combination strategy for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the incidence of HIV infection, we analyzed the association between the incidence of HIV and the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medical male circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. Changes in population-level viral-load suppression and sexual behaviors were also examined.

METHODS

Between 1999 and 2016, data were collected from 30 communities with the use of 12 surveys in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, an open, population-based cohort of persons 15 to 49 years of age. We assessed trends in the incidence of HIV on the basis of observed seroconversion data, participant-reported use of ART, participant-reported male circumcision, viral-load suppression, and sexual behaviors.

RESULTS

In total, 33,937 study participants contributed 103,011 person-visits. A total of 17,870 persons who were initially HIV-negative were followed for 94,427 person-years; among these persons, 931 seroconversions were observed. ART was introduced in 2004, and by 2016, ART coverage was 69% (72% among women vs. 61% among men, P<0.001). HIV viral-load suppression among all HIV-positive persons increased from 42% in 2009 to 75% by 2016 (P<0.001). Male circumcision coverage increased from 15% in 1999 to 59% by 2016 (P<0.001). The percentage of adolescents 15 to 19 years of age who reported never having initiated sex (i.e., delayed sexual debut) increased from 30% in 1999 to 55% in 2016 (P<0.001). By 2016, the mean incidence of HIV infection had declined by 42% relative to the period before 2006 (i.e., before the scale-up of the combination strategy for HIV prevention) - from 1.17 cases per 100 person-years to 0.66 cases per 100 person-years (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45 to 0.76); declines were greater among men (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.73) than among women (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

In this longitudinal study, the incidence of HIV infection declined significantly with the scale-up of a combination strategy for HIV prevention, which provides empirical evidence that interventions for HIV prevention can have a population-level effect. However, additional efforts are needed to overcome disparities according to sex and to achieve greater reductions in the incidence of HIV infection. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others.).

The Effect of a Theory of Planned Behavior-based Educational Intervention on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Iranian Adolescent Girls: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: We aimed to assess the effect of a theory of planned behavior (TPB)-based educational intervention on attitude, norms, parental control, behavioral control, and intention in high school girls in Tehran, Iran.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: This study was conducted among 578 high school girls, 12 to 16 yr, in Tehran, Iran in 2016. The subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=289) and control (n=289) groups using multistage random cluster sampling. TPB is the basis for both education and evaluation; therefore, the TPB-based questionnaire was used before and after the intervention. The intervention included three months education and six months follow up. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 through statistical tests and analysis of covariance.

Results: Significant improvement in attitude (difference=16.8; 95% CI: 15.3, 18.3), subjective norms (16.4; 95% CI=14.83 to 18.11), perceived behavioral control (18.0; 95% CI: 16.6, 19.4), perceived parental control (17%; 95% CI: 15.1, 18.9), behavioral intention (18.4%; 95 CI: 14.8, 18.3), and behavior (18.5; 95% CI:16.8, 20.2) was observed in experimental group compared to control group (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Theory-based educational intervention in sexual and reproductive health can effectively reduce the high-risk behaviors related to sexual and reproductive health in adolescent girls. Health and education policy-makers are advised to review the current education programs and replace them with new influential education programs related to sexual and reproductive health in the school system.

Sexual HIV risk among gay, bisexual and queer transgender men: findings from interviews in Vancouver, Canada

Gay, bisexual, queer and other men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV in Canada. While up to 63% of transgender men identify as gay, bisexual or queer and report a variety of HIV sexual risk behaviours, transgender men are often overlooked within epidemiological HIV surveillance and research. While a growing body of research has begun to examine sexual risk for transgender gay, bisexual and queer men, most studies have been conducted in the USA. This study explored sexual HIV risk for this population in the Canadian context, specifically in British Columbia, in an environment of publically funded universal access to healthcare, including HIV testing and treatment. We conducted interviews with 11 gay, bisexual and queer transgender men. Participants' narratives suggest that HIV risk for these transgender men is shaped by a diversity of sexual behaviours, including inconsistent condom use, seeking partners online for greater safety and accessing HIV/STI testing and other healthcare services despite facing transition-related barriers. Public health prevention and health education must recognise the presence of transgender men and ensure health services and broader population health promotion meet the unique sexual health needs of this sub-population of gay, bisexual and queer men.

Dynamics and control of infections on social networks of population types

Random mixing in host populations has been a convenient simplifying assumption in the study of epidemics, but neglects important differences in contact rates within and between population groups. For HIV/AIDS, the assumption of random mixing is inappropriate for epidemics that are concentrated in groups of people at high risk, including female sex workers (FSW) and their male clients (MCF), injecting drug users (IDU) and men who have sex with men (MSM). To find out who transmits infection to whom and how that affects the spread and containment of infection remains a major empirical challenge in the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. Here we develop a technique, based on the routine sampling of infection in linked population groups (a social network of population types), which shows how an HIV/AIDS epidemic in Can Tho Province of Vietnam began in FSW, was propagated mainly by IDU, and ultimately generated most cases among the female partners of MCF (FPM). Calculation of the case reproduction numbers within and between groups, and for the whole network, provides insights into control that cannot be deduced simply from observations on the prevalence of infection. Specifically, the per capita rate of HIV transmission was highest from FSW to MCF, and most HIV infections occurred in FPM, but the number of infections in the whole network is best reduced by interrupting transmission to and from IDU. This analysis can be used to guide HIV/AIDS interventions using needle and syringe exchange, condom distribution and antiretroviral therapy. The method requires only routine data and could be applied to infections in other populations.

Upward trends of acquired drug resistances in Ethiopian HIV-1C isolates: A decade longitudinal study

Background

The emergence, accumulation and spread of HIV-1 drug resistance strains in Africa could compromise the effectiveness of HIV treatment programs. This study was aimed at determining the incidence of virological failure and acquired drug resistance mutations overtime and identifying the most common mutational pathways of resistance in a well characterized HIV-1C infected Ethiopian cohort.

Methods

A total of 320 patients (220 ART naïve and 100 on first lines ART) were included and followed. ART initiation and patients’ monitoring was based on the WHO clinical and immunological parameters. HIV viral load measurement and genotypic drug resistance testing were done at baseline (T0-2008) and after on average at a median time of 30 months on ART at three time points (T1-2011, T2-2013, T3-2015).

Findings

The incidence of virological failure has increased overtime from 11 at T1 to 17 at T2 and then to 30% at T3. At all time point’s almost all of the patients with virological failure and accumulated drug resistance mutations had not met the WHO clinical and immunologic failure criteria and continued the failing regimen. A steep increase in the incidence and accumulation of major acquired NRTI and NNRTI drug resistance mutations have been observed (from 40% at T1 to 64% at T2 and then to 66% at T3). The most frequent NRTIs drug resistance associated mutations are mainly the lamivudine-induced mutation M184V which was detected in 4 patients at T1 and showed a 2 fold increase in the following time points (T2: n = 8) and at (T3: n = 12) and the thymidine analogue mutations (such as D67N, K70R and K219E) which were not-detected at baseline T0 and T1 but were increased progressively to 10 at T2 and to 17 at T3. The most frequent NNRTIs associated mutations were K103N, V106M and Y188C.

Conclusions

An upward trend in the incidence of virological failure and accumulation of NRTI and NNRTI associated acquired antiretroviral drug resistance mutations are observed. The data suggest the need for virological monitoring, resistance testing for early detection of failure and access for TDF and PI containing drugs. Population-level and patient targeted interventions to prevent the spread of mutant variants is warranted.

A historical review of HIV prevention and care initiatives in British Columbia, Canada: 1996-2015

INTRODUCTION

British Columbia has made significant progress in the treatment and prevention of HIV since 1996, when Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) became available. However, we currently lack a historical summary of HIV prevention and care interventions implemented in the province since the introduction of HAART and how they have shaped the HIV epidemic. Guided by a socio-ecological framework, we present a historical review of biomedical and health services, community and structural interventions implemented in British Columbia from 1996-2015 to prevent HIV transmission or otherwise enhance the cascade of HIV care.

METHODS

We constructed a historical timeline of HIV interventions implemented in BC between 1996 and 2015 by reviewing publicly available reports, guidelines and other documents from provincial health agencies, community organizations and AIDS service organizations, and by conducting searches of peer-reviewed literature through PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE. We collected further programmatic information by administering a data collection form to representatives from BC's regional health authorities and an umbrella agency representing 45 AIDS Service organizations. Using linked population-level health administrative data, we identified key phases of the HIV epidemic in British Columbia, as characterized by distinct changes in HIV incidence, HAART uptake and the provincial HIV response.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In total, we identified 175 HIV prevention and care interventions implemented in BC from 1996 to 2015. We identify and describe four phases in BC's response to HIV/AIDS: the early HAART phase (1996-1999); the harm reduction and health service scale-up phase (2000-2005); the early Treatment as Prevention phase (2006-2009); and the STOP HIV/AIDS phase (2010-present). In doing so, we provide an overview of British Columbia's universal and centralized HIV treatment system and detail the role of community-based and provincial stakeholders in advancing innovative prevention and harm reduction approaches, as well as "seek, test, treat and retain" strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

The review provides valuable insight into British Columbia's HIV response, highlights emerging priorities, and may inform future efforts to evaluate the causal impact of interventions.

Predictors of HIV virological failure and drug resistance in Chinese patients after 48 months of antiretroviral treatment, 2008-2012: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To explore factors associated with HIV virological failure (VF) and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) among HIV-positive Chinese individuals 4 years after initiating first-line lamivudine-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 2008 at five sentinel sites.

DESIGN

First-line ART initiators who were previously treatment naïve were selected using consecutive ID numbers from the 2008 National Surveillance Database into a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires and blood samples were collected in 2011 and 2012 to assess the outcomes of interest: VF (defined as viral load ≥1000 copies/mL) and HIVDR (defined as VF with genetic drug-resistant mutations). Questionnaires and data from National Surveillance Database assessed demographics and drug adherence data.

RESULTS

536 individuals with HIV were analysed; the 4-year risk of VF was 63 (11.8%) and HIVDR was 27 (5.0%). Female participants initiating stavudine (D4T)-based regimens were more susceptible to both VF (adjusted OR (aOR)=2.5, 95% CI 1 to 6.1, p=0.04) and HIVDR (aOR=3.6, 95% CI 1 to 12.6, p=0.05) versus zidovudine-based regimens. Male participants missing doses in past month were more susceptible to both VF (aOR=2.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 7, p=0.03) and HIVDR (aOR=9.7, 95% CI 2.1 to 44.1, p<0.01). Participants of non-Han nationality were of increased risk for HIVDR (aOR from 4.8 to 12.2, p<0.05) and non-Han men were at increased risk for VF (aOR=2.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 7.3, p=0.02). All 27 participants detected with HIVDR had non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor mutations, 21 (77.8%) also had nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor mutations, and no protease inhibitor mutations were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest successful treatment outcomes at 4 years for roughly 90% of patients. We suggest conducting further study on whether and when to change ART regimen for women initiated with D4T-based regimen, and reinforcing adherence counselling for men. Increased VF and HIVDR risk among non-Han minorities warrants further exploration, and ethnic minorities may be an important group to tailor adherence-focused interventions.