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Neilan AM, Ufio OL, Brenner IR, Flanagan CF, Shebl FM, Hyle EP, Freedberg KA, Ciaranello AL, Patel K. Projected Life Expectancy for Adolescents With HIV in the US. JAMA HEALTH FORUM 2024; 5:e240816. [PMID: 38728022 PMCID: PMC11087843 DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Life expectancy is a key measure of overall population health. Life expectancy estimates for youth with HIV in the US are needed in the current HIV care and treatment context to guide health policies and resource allocation. Objective To compare life expectancy between 18-year-old youth with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV), youth with nonperinatally acquired HIV (NPHIV), and youth without HIV. Design, Setting, and Participants Using a US-focused adolescent-specific Monte Carlo state-transition HIV model, we simulated individuals from age 18 years until death. We estimated probabilities of HIV treatment and care engagement, HIV progression, clinical events, and mortality from observational cohorts and clinical trials for model input parameters. The simulated individuals were 18-year-old race and ethnicity-matched youth with PHIV, youth with NPHIV, and youth without HIV; 47%, 85%, and 50% were assigned male sex at birth, respectively. Individuals were categorized by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined HIV acquisition risk: men who have sex with men, people who ever injected drugs, heterosexually active individuals at increased risk for HIV infection, or average risk for HIV infection. Distributions were 3%, 2%, 12%, and 83% for youth with PHIV and youth without HIV, and 80%, 6%, 14%, and 0% for youth with NPHIV, respectively. Among the simulated youth in this analysis, individuals were 61% Black, 24% Hispanic, and 15% White, respectively. Exposures HIV status by timing of acquisition. Main Outcomes Life expectancy loss for youth with PHIV and youth with NPHIV: difference between mean projected life expectancy under current and ideal HIV care scenarios compared with youth without HIV. Uncertainty intervals reflect varying adolescent HIV-related mortality inputs (95% CIs). Results Compared with youth without HIV (life expectancy: male, 76.3 years; female, 81.7 years), male youth with PHIV and youth with NPHIV had projected life expectancy losses of 10.4 years (95% CI, 5.5-18.1) and 15.0 years (95% CI, 9.3-26.8); female youth with PHIV and youth with NPHIV had projected life expectancy losses of 11.8 years (95% CI, 6.4-20.2) and 19.5 years (95% CI, 13.8-31.6), respectively. When receiving ideal HIV care, life expectancy losses were projected to improve for youth with PHIV (male: 0.5 years [95% CI, 0.3-1.8]: female: 0.6 years [95% CI, 0.4-2.1]) but were projected to persist for youth with NPHIV (male: 6.0 years [95% CI, 5.0-9.1]; female: 10.4 years [95% CI, 9.4-13.6]). Conclusions This adolescent-focused microsimulation modeling analysis projected that youth with HIV would have shorter life expectancy than youth without HIV. Projected differences were larger for youth with NPHIV compared with youth with PHIV. Differences in mortality by sex at birth, sexual behavior, and injection drug use contributed to lower projected life expectancy among youth with NPHIV. Interventions focused on HIV care and social factors are needed to improve life expectancy for youth with HIV in the US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Neilan
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ogochukwu L. Ufio
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Isaac Ravi Brenner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Clare F. Flanagan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Fatma M. Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily P. Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth A. Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Andrea L. Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kunjal Patel
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Brenner IR, Simpson KN, Flanagan CF, Dark T, Dooley M, Agwu AL, Koay WLA, Freedberg KA, Ciaranello AL, Neilan AM. Projecting the Clinical and Economic Impacts of Changes to HIV Care Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2024; 13:60-68. [PMID: 37963069 PMCID: PMC10824262 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piad102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, many US youth with HIV (YHIV) used telehealth services; others experienced disruptions in clinic and antiretroviral therapy (ART) access. METHODS Using the Cost-effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC)-Adolescent HIV microsimulation model, we evaluated 3 scenarios: 1) Clinic: in-person care; 2) Telehealth: virtual visits, without CD4 or viral load monitoring for 12 months, followed by return to usual care; and 3) Interruption: complete care interruption with no ART access or laboratory monitoring for 6 months (maximum clinic closure time), followed by return to usual care for 80%. We assigned higher 1-year retention (87% vs 80%) and lower cost/visit ($49 vs $56) for Telehealth vs Clinic. We modeled 2 YHIV cohorts with non-perinatal (YNPHIV) and perinatal (YPHIV) HIV, which differed by mean age (22 vs 16 years), sex at birth (85% vs 47% male), starting CD4 count (527/μL vs 635/μL), ART, mortality, and HIV-related costs. We projected life months (LMs) and costs/100 YHIV over 10 years. RESULTS Over 10 years, LMs in Clinic and Telehealth would be similar (YNPHIV: 11 350 vs 11 360 LMs; YPHIV: 11 680 LMs for both strategies); costs would be $0.3M (YNPHIV) and $0.4M (YPHIV) more for Telehealth than Clinic. Interruption would be less effective (YNPHIV: 11 230 LMs; YPHIV: 11 620 LMs) and less costly (YNPHIV: $1.3M less; YPHIV: $0.2M less) than Clinic. Higher retention in Telehealth led to increased ART use and thus higher costs. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth could be as effective as in-person care for some YHIV, at slightly increased cost. Short interruptions to ART and laboratory monitoring may have negative long-term clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Ravi Brenner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kit N Simpson
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Clare F Flanagan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tyra Dark
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Center for Translational Behavioral Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Mary Dooley
- Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Allison L Agwu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Li Adeline Koay
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne M Neilan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Ahmed A, Dujaili JA, Chuah LH, Hashmi FK, Le LKD, Khanal S, Awaisu A, Chaiyakunapruk N. Cost-Effectiveness of Anti-retroviral Adherence Interventions for People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review of Decision Analytical Models. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2023; 21:731-750. [PMID: 37389788 PMCID: PMC10403422 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-023-00818-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although safe and effective anti-retrovirals (ARVs) are readily available, non-adherence to ARVs is highly prevalent among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (PLWHA). Different adherence-improving interventions have been developed and examined through decision analytic model-based health technology assessments. This systematic review aimed to review and appraise the decision analytical economic models developed to assess ARV adherence-improvement interventions. METHODS The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022270039), and reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Relevant studies were identified through searches in six generic and specialized bibliographic databases, i.e. PubMed, Embase, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, PsycINFO, Health Economic Evaluations Database, tufts CEA registry and EconLit, from their inception to 23 October 2022. The cost-effectiveness of adherence interventions is represented by the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The quality of studies was assessed using the quality of the health economics studies (QHES) instrument. Data were narratively synthesized in the form of tables and texts. Due to the heterogeneity of the data, a permutation matrix was used for quantitative data synthesis rather than a meta-analysis. RESULTS Fifteen studies, mostly conducted in North America (8/15 studies), were included in the review. The time horizon ranged from a year to a lifetime. Ten out of 15 studies used a micro-simulation, 4/15 studies employed Markov and 1/15 employed a dynamic model. The most commonly used interventions reported include technology based (5/15), nurse involved (2/15), directly observed therapy (2/15), case manager involved (1/15) and others that involved multi-component interventions (5/15). In 1/15 studies, interventions gained higher quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) with cost savings. The interventions in 14/15 studies were more effective but at a higher cost, and the overall ICER was well below the acceptable threshold mentioned in each study, indicating the interventions could potentially be implemented after careful interpretation. The studies were graded as high quality (13/15) or fair quality (2/15), with some methodological inconsistencies reported. CONCLUSION Counselling and smartphone-based interventions are cost-effective, and they have the potential to reduce the chronic adherence problem significantly. The quality of decision models can be improved by addressing inconsistencies in model selection, data inputs incorporated into models and uncertainty assessment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ahmed
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Juman Abdulelah Dujaili
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Campus, Swansea University, Wales, UK
| | - Lay Hong Chuah
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Furqan Khurshid Hashmi
- University College of Pharmacy, University of Punjab, Allama Iqbal Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Long Khanh-Dao Le
- Monash University Health Economics Group (MUHEG), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Saval Khanal
- Health Economics Consulting, University of East Anglia, Coventry, UK
| | - Ahmed Awaisu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
- College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Freij BJ, Aldrich AM, Ogrin SL, Olivero RM. Long-Acting Antiretroviral Drug Therapy in Adolescents: Current Status and Future Prospects. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2023; 12:43-48. [PMID: 36525377 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piac134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 50% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adolescents fail to achieve complete viral suppression, largely due to nonadherence to their antiretroviral drug regimens. Numerous personal, financial, and societal barriers contribute to nonadherence, which may lead to the development of HIV drug resistance. Long-acting antiretroviral drugs hold the promise of improved adherence because they remove the need for swallowing one or more pills daily. Cabotegravir (an integrase strand transfer inhibitor) and rilpivirine (a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) can now be intramuscularly co-administered to HIV-infected adolescents every 4-8 weeks if they are virologically suppressed and without resistance mutations to cabotegravir or rilpivirine. Adverse effects are few and non-severe. Widespread use of this complete antiretroviral therapy may be limited by drug costs, need for sites and skilled personnel who can administer the injections, and ethical challenges. Other long-acting medications and new antiretroviral therapy delivery systems are under active investigation and show great promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishara J Freij
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section, Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.,Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Aileen M Aldrich
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Lansing, Michigan, USA.,Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Sara L Ogrin
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Rosemary M Olivero
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Neilan AM, Landovitz RJ, Le MH, Grinsztejn B, Freedberg KA, McCauley M, Wattananimitgul N, Cohen MS, Ciaranello AL, Clement ME, Reddy KP, Hyle EP, Paltiel AD, Walensky RP. Cost-Effectiveness of Long-Acting Injectable HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis in the United States : A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Ann Intern Med 2022; 175:479-489. [PMID: 35099992 PMCID: PMC9087297 DOI: 10.7326/m21-1548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 083 trial demonstrated the superiority of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) compared with oral emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF) for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). OBJECTIVE To identify the maximum price premium (that is, greatest possible price differential) that society should be willing to accept for the additional benefits of CAB-LA over tenofovir-based PrEP among men who have sex with men and transgender women (MSM/TGW) in the United States. DESIGN Simulation, cost-effectiveness analysis. DATA SOURCES Trial and published data, including estimated HIV incidence (5.32, 1.33, and 0.26 per 100 person-years for off PrEP, generic F/TDF and branded emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide (F/TAF), and CAB-LA, respectively); 28% 6-year PrEP retention. Annual base-case drug costs: $360 and $16 800 for generic F/TDF and branded F/TAF. Fewer side effects with branded F/TAF versus generic F/TDF were assumed. TARGET POPULATION 476 700 MSM/TGW at very high risk for HIV (VHR). TIME HORIZON 10 years. PERSPECTIVE Health care system. INTERVENTION CAB-LA versus generic F/TDF or branded F/TAF for HIV PrEP. OUTCOME MEASURES Primary transmissions, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs (2020 U.S. dollars), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs; U.S. dollars per QALY), maximum price premium for CAB-LA versus tenofovir-based PrEP. RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS Compared with generic F/TDF (or branded F/TAF), CAB-LA increased life expectancy by 28 000 QALYs (26 000 QALYs) among those at VHR. Branded F/TAF cost more per QALY gained than generic F/TDF compared with no PrEP. At 10 years, CAB-LA could achieve an ICER of at most $100 000 per QALY compared with generic F/TDF at a maximum price premium of $3700 per year over generic F/TDF (CAB-LA price <$4100 per year). RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS In a PrEP-eligible population at high risk for HIV, rather than at VHR (n = 1 906 800; off PrEP incidence: 1.54 per 100 person-years), CAB-LA could achieve an ICER of at most $100 000 per QALY versus generic F/TDF at a maximum price premium of $1100 per year over generic F/TDF (CAB-LA price <$1500 per year). LIMITATION Uncertain clinical and economic benefits of averting future transmissions. CONCLUSION Effective oral PrEP limits the additional price society should be willing to pay for CAB-LA. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FHI 360; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institute on Drug Abuse; the Reich HIV Scholar Award; and the Steve and Deborah Gorlin MGH Research Scholars Award.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Neilan
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (A.M.N.)
| | - Raphael J Landovitz
- UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education, Los Angeles, and Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California (R.J.L.)
| | - Mylinh H Le
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (M.H.L., N.W.)
| | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Instituto de Pesquisa Clinica Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (B.G.)
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical Practice Evaluation Center, and Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, and Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Boston, Massachusetts (K.A.F.)
| | | | - Nattanicha Wattananimitgul
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (M.H.L., N.W.)
| | - Myron S Cohen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (M.S.C.)
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Boston, Massachusetts (A.L.C., E.P.H.)
| | - Meredith E Clement
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana (M.E.C.)
| | - Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (K.P.R.)
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Boston, Massachusetts (A.L.C., E.P.H.)
| | - A David Paltiel
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut (A.D.P.)
| | - Rochelle P Walensky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical Practice Evaluation Center, and Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (R.P.W.)
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Saberi P, Eskaf S, Campbell CK, Neilands TB, Sauceda JA, Dubé K. Exploration of a Mobile Technology Vulnerability Scale's association with antiretroviral adherence among young adults living with HIV in the United States. Mhealth 2022; 8:23. [PMID: 35928514 PMCID: PMC9343971 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-21-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adults living with HIV (YLWH) have suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV care outcomes. Mobile health technologies are increasingly used to deliver interventions to address HIV health outcomes. However, not all YLWH have equal and consistent access to mobile technologies. METHODS Using our novel Mobile Technology Vulnerability Scale (MTVS) to evaluate how vulnerable an individual feels with regard to their personal access to mobile technology in the past 6 months, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 271 YLWH (18-29 years) in the US to evaluate the relationships between MTVS and self-reported ART adherence. RESULTS Participants reported changes in phone numbers (25%), stolen (14%) or lost (22%) phones, and disconnections of phone service due to non-payment (39%) in the past 6 months. On a scale of 0 to 1 (0 having no mobile technology vulnerability and 1 having complete mobile technology vulnerability), participants had a mean MTVS of 0.33 (SD =0.26). Black and financially constrained participants had the highest MTVS, which was significantly higher that other racial/ethnic and financially non-constrained groups, respectively. Higher MTVS was significantly associated with ART non-adherence and non-persistence. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest the need to measure MTVS to recognize pitfalls when using mobile health interventions and identify populations whose inconsistent mobile technology access may be related to worse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Saberi
- Division of Prevention Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shadi Eskaf
- School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chadwick K. Campbell
- Division of Prevention Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Torsten B. Neilands
- Division of Prevention Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John A. Sauceda
- Division of Prevention Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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