Influence of noninjecting and injecting drug use on mortality, retention in the cohort, and antiretroviral therapy, in participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Situational assessment and epidemiology of HIV, HBV and HCV among people who use and inject drugs in Ghana

INTRODUCTION

People who inject drugs (PWID) and people who use drugs (PWUD) are an important population group that remain under-served in Ghana. Though PWID and PWUD are among the key populations most-at-risk to acquire sexually transmitted or blood-borne diseases, they are among those with the least access to human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses' prevention, care and treatment services in Ghana due to lack of data on them. We provide a rapid assessment of the PWUD and PWID situation in Ghana.

METHODS

This rapid cross-sectional design undertook consultative meetings between the study team and relevant stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSO) working with PWUD/PWID. The assessment considered a representative sample of PWID and PWUD. It was conducted in four (4) selected regions of Ghana (Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, and Northern). Overall, 323 participants were interviewed using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach. Information obtained from participants were demographics, HIV risk behaviors, human immunodeficiency (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI)-related knowledge HIV/HCV/HBV screening, attitude, and practices among others. Analyses were conducted using Stata version 17 and RDSAT version 7.1.46 software.

FINDINGS

Drug use was found to be more prevalent among the youth with a median age of 37 years. Majority of the respondents were males (86%). About 28% of the female respondents identified themselves as sex workers, while about 74% have been involved in transactional sex. The median age at which respondents started using and injecting drugs was 20 and 22 years respectively. Majority (68%) of the respondents consume drugs through smoking, with 20% through snorting, inhaling or swallowing and 12% through injection. The drug mostly used among the respondents was heroin (52%). The most commonly injected drug was cocaine (55%). About 64.7% of respondents reported mixing two or more drugs. HIV prevalence among respondents was 2.5%, 12.3% among women and 17.7% among women engaged in sex work, highlighting the overlap vulnerability. The prevalence of hepatitis C was 6.0%, and Hepatitis B was 4.5%. Access to care is limited, with 63% of the respondents never been tested for HIV.

CONCLUSION

These rapid assessment findings reveal the challenging conditions for people who use and inject drugs coupled with a relatively high prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C compared to the general population. However, it also reveals that Ghana has a window of opportunity to prevent an exponential spread of HIV and Hepatitis in this population. Therefore, there is the need to implement prevention and treatment programs for HIV and hepatitis among people who use and inject drugs including essential strategies for an enabling environment in Ghana.

Integrating long-acting injectable treatment to improve medication adherence among persons living with HIV and opioid use disorder: study protocol

BACKGROUND

Oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been effective at reducing mortality rates of people with HIV. However, despite its effectiveness, people who use drugs face barriers to maintaining ART adherence. Receipt of opioid agonist treatment, in the context of HIV care, is associated with medication adherence and decreased HIV viral loads. Recent pharmacological advancements have led to the development of novel long-acting, injectable, medications for both HIV (cabotegravir co-administered with rilpivirine) and OUD (extended-release buprenorphine). These therapies have the potential to dramatically improve adherence by eliminating the need for daily pill-taking. Despite the extensive evidence base supporting long-acting injectable medications for both HIV and OUD, and clinical guidelines supporting integrated care provision, currently little is known about how these medications may be optimally delivered to this population. This paper presents the study design for the development of a clinical protocol to guide the delivery of combined treatment for HIV and OUD using long-acting injectable medications.

METHODS

The study aims are to: (1) develop a clinical protocol to guide the delivery of combined LAI for HIV and OUD by conducting in-depth interviews with prospective patients, clinical content experts, and other key stakeholders; and (2) conduct This single group, open pilot trial protocol to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety among patients diagnosed with HIV and OUD. Throughout all phases of the study, information on patient-, provider-, and organizational-level variables will be collected to inform future implementation.

DISCUSSION

Findings from this study will inform the development of a future study to conduct a fully-powered Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation design.

Convenience, efficacy, safety, and durability of INSTI-based antiretroviral therapies: evidence from the Italian MaSTER cohort

BACKGROUND

Integrase strand transferase inhibitors (INSTI), including raltegravir (RAL), elvitegravir (ELV), and dolutegravir (DTG), have demonstrated better efficacy and tolerability than other combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) classes in clinical trials; however, studies of sustainability of INSTI-containing therapy in the long-term are sparse. The purpose of this study was to provide an epidemiological overview comparing the outcome performance of different INSTI-based regimens longitudinally, including the metrics of efficacy, safety, convenience, and durability among a large, nationally representative cohort of persons living with HIV in Italy.

METHODS

We selected subjects in the MaSTER cohort (an Italian multicenter, hospital-based cohort established in the mid-1990s that currently has enrolled over 24,000 PLWH) who initiated an INSTI-based regimen either when naïve or following a regimen switch. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to evaluate associations between therapy interruptions and age, sex, nationality, transmission risk group, viral suppression status, CD4 + T-cell count, diagnosis year, cART status (naïve or experienced), and hepatitis coinfection. Results were stratified by cART INSTI type.

RESULTS

There were 8173 participants who initiated an INSTI-based cART regimen in the MaSTER cohort between 2009 and 2017. The population was majority male (72.6%), of Italian nationality (88.6%), and cART-experienced (83.0%). Mean age was 49.7 (standard deviation: 13.9) years. In total, interruptions of the 1st INSTI-based treatment were recorded in 34% of cases. The most frequently cited reason for interruption among all three drug types was safety problems. In the survival analysis, past history of cART use was associated with higher hazards of interruption due to poor efficacy for all three drug types when compared to persons who were cART naïve. Non-viral suppression and CD4 + T-cell count < 200/mm3 at baseline were associated with higher hazards of interruption due to efficacy, safety, and durability reasons. Non-Italian nationality was linked to higher hazards of efficacy interruption for RAL and EVG. Age was negatively associated with interruption due to convenience and positively associated with interruption due to safety reasons. People who injects drugs (PWID) were associated with higher hazards of interruption due to convenience problems. Hepatitis coinfection was linked to higher hazards of interruption due to safety concerns for people receiving RAL.

CONCLUSION

One-third of the population experienced an interruption of any drugs included in INSTI therapy in this study. The most frequent reason for interruption was safety concerns which accounted for one-fifth of interruptions among the full study population, mainly switched to DTG. The hazard for interruption was higher for low baseline CD4 + T-cell counts, higher baseline HIV-RNA, non-Italian nationality, older age, PWID and possible co-infections with hepatitis viruses. The risk ratio was higher for past history of cART use compared to persons who were cART naive, use of regimens containing 3 drugs compared to regimens containing 2 drugs. Durability worked in favor of DTG which appeared to perform better in this cohort compared to RAL and EVG, though length of follow-up was significantly shorter for DTG. These observational results need to be confirmed in further perspective studies with longer follow-up.

Differential Effects of Patient Navigation across Latent Profiles of Barriers to Care among People Living with HIV and Comorbid Conditions

Engaging people living with HIV who report substance use (PLWH-SU) in care is essential to HIV medical management and prevention of new HIV infections. Factors associated with poor engagement in HIV care include a combination of syndemic psychosocial factors, mental and physical comorbidities, and structural barriers to healthcare utilization. Patient navigation (PN) is designed to reduce barriers to care, but its effectiveness among PLWH-SU remains unclear. We analyzed data from NIDA Clinical Trials Network's CTN-0049, a three-arm randomized controlled trial testing the effect of a 6-month PN with and without contingency management (CM), on engagement in HIV care and viral suppression among PLWH-SU (n = 801). Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of individuals' experiences to 23 barriers to care. The effects of PN on engagement in care and viral suppression were compared across latent profiles. Three latent profiles of barriers to care were identified. The results revealed that PN interventions are likely to be most effective for PLWH-SU with fewer, less severe healthcare barriers. Special attention should be given to individuals with a history of abuse, intimate partner violence, and discrimination, as they may be less likely to benefit from PN alone and require additional interventions.

Time spent with HIV-RNA ≤ 200 copies/ml in a cohort of people with HIV during the U=U era

OBJECTIVE

Zero risk of linked HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples when the HIV-infected partner had viral load less than 200 copies/ml ('U status') was found in observational studies. We aimed at estimating the proportion of time in which 'U status' was maintained and identifying factors associated with the risk of losing it.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

METHODS

We included participants in the ICONA cohort who had reached an established 'U status' (viral load ≤200 copies/ml for >6 months) as of December 2010. The outcome was the number of person-days of follow-up (PDFU) above a viral load greater than 200 copies/ml, relative to the total number of PDFU observed. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors independently associated with the risk of losing 'U status'.

RESULTS

Eight thousand, two hundred and forty-one persons living with HIV were included in the analysis who contributed 2 670 888 PDFU. Of these, 1648 (20%) were women, 768 (9%) were people who inject drugs (PWID), and 2066 (25%) were foreign-born. The median of viral load measurements was 9 (IQR: 4-15). Overall, only 3.1% of PDFU were observed when viral load was above 200 copies/ml. The proportion of PDFU with viral load more than 200 copies/ml was higher than average in women (5.3%), unemployed (5.4%), PWID (4.7%), and in people with more than three previous virologic failures (6.3%). These variables were significant predictors of losing 'U status' in the multivariable logistic regression.

CONCLUSION

Our results reinforce the validity of the U=U message in real-world setting. However, we identified subsets of our study population at higher risk of losing the 'U status' for whom additional efforts are needed.

Self-efficacy as a mediator of patient navigation interventions to engage persons living with HIV and substance use

BACKGROUND

People living with HIV who report substance use (PLWH-SU) face many barriers to care, resulting in an increased risk for poor health outcomes and the potential for ongoing disease transmission. This study evaluates the mechanisms by which Patient Navigation (PN) and Contingency Management (CM) interventions may work to address barriers to care and improve HIV outcomes in this population.

METHODS

Mediation analysis was conducted using data from a randomized, multi-site trial testing PN interventions to improve HIV care outcomes among 801 hospitalized PLHW-SU. Direct and indirect effects of PN and PN + CM were evaluated through five potential mediators-psychosocial conditions, healthcare avoidance, financial hardship, system barriers, and self-efficacy for HIV treatment adherence-on engagement in HIV care and viral suppression.

RESULTS

The PN + CM intervention had an indirect effect on improving engagement in HIV care at 6 months by increasing self-efficacy for HIV treatment adherence (β = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.008, 0.086). PN + CM also led to increases in viral suppression at 6 months (β = 0.090, 95% CI = 0.023, 0.168) and 12 months (β = 0.069, 95% CI = 0.009, 0.129) via increases in self-efficacy, although the direct effects were not significant. No mediating effects were observed for PN alone.

CONCLUSION

PN + CM interventions for PLWH-SU can increase an individual's self-efficacy for HIV treatment adherence, which in turn improves engagement in care at 6 months and may contribute to viral suppression over 12 months. Building self-efficacy may be a key factor in the success of such interventions and should be considered as a primary goal of PN + CM in practice.

Substance use, self-rated health and HIV status in Brazil

ABSTRACTWe compared the prevalence of of non-injecting drug use (NIDU) and Self-Rated Health (SRH) among individuals self-reporting as HIV-positive (PLWHA), HIV-negative and unknown at the III Brazilian Household Survey on Substance Use. Overall, 16,273 individuals, 12-65 years old, were interviewed in 2015. Prevalence and Standard Error (SE) were estimated considering the complex sample design and weight calibration. Chi-square tests with Rao-Scott adjustment were used to test independence between NIDU, SRH and HIV status. PLWHA presented higher frequencies of 12-month use for most substances than those reporting to be HIV-negative: alcohol use prevalence was 49.5% (SE 12.8) vs. 43.1% (SE 0.7), p = 0.34; tobacco 45.3% (SE 12.7) vs. 15.3% (SE 0.4), p < 0.01; amphetamines 1.7% (SE 1.7) vs. 0.3% (SE 0.1), p = 0.51; cannabis 10.5%(SE 6.7) vs. 2.5%(0.2), p = 0.06; powder cocaine 3.6% (SE 3.0) vs. 0.9% (SE 0.1), p = 0.45; crack-cocaine 5.3% (SE 3.2) vs. 0.3% (SE 0.1), p < 0.01; inhalants 3.6% (SE 3.0) vs. 0.2% (SE 0), p = 0.03; ketamine 1.7%(SE 1.7) vs. 0.1% (SE 0), p = 0.23; and opioids 1.7% (SE 1.7) vs. 1.4% (SE 0.2), p = 0.93. PLWHA also reported worse SRH. Our results and the scarcity of integrated substance use and HIV treatments call for innovative, cost-effective approaches to tackle these public health challenges.

Very high pre-therapy viral load is a predictor of virological rebound in HIV-1-infected patients starting a modern first-line regimen

BACKGROUND

Pre-cART (combined antiretroviral therapy) plasma viral load >500,000 copies/ml has been associated with a lower probability of achieving virological suppression, while few data about its role on maintenance of virological suppression are available. In this study we aimed to clarify whether high levels of pre-cART viraemia are associated with virological rebound (VR) after virological suppression.

METHODS

HIV-infected individuals who achieved virological suppression after first-line cART were included. VR was defined as the first of two consecutive viraemia >50 copies/ml (VR50) or, in an alternative analysis, >200 copies/ml (VR200). The impact of pre-cART viraemia on the risk of VR was evaluated by survival analyses.

RESULTS

Among 5,766 patients included, 59.2%, 31.4%, 5.2% and 4.2% had pre-cART viraemia ≤100,000, 100,001-500,000, 500,001-1,000,000 and >1,000,000 copies/ml, respectively. Patients with pre-cART viraemia levels >1,000,000 copies/ml had the highest probability of VR (>1,000,000; 500,000-1,000,000; 100,000-500,000; <100,000 copies/ml; VR50: 28.4%; 24.3%; 17.6%; 13.8%, P<0.0001; VR200: 14.4%; 11.1%; 7.2%; 7.6%; P=0.009). By Cox multivariable analyses, patients with pre-cART viraemia >500,000 and >1,000,000 copies/ml showed a significantly higher risk of VR regardless of the VR end point used. No difference in the risk of VR was found between patients with pre-cART viraemia ranging 500,000-1,000,000 copies/ml and those with pre-cART viraemia >1,000,000 copies/ml, regardless of the VR end point used.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-cART plasma viral load levels >500,000 copies/ml can identify fragile patients with poorer chance of maintaining virological control after an initial response. An effort in defining effective treatment strategies is mandatory for these patients that remain difficult to treat.

Differences in social and mental well-being of long-term survivors among people who inject drugs and other participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: 1980-2018

BACKGROUND

People living with HIV who were diagnosed before highly active antiretroviral therapy became available in 1996 and who survived at least 15 years after HIV diagnosis, termed long-term survivors (LTS), form a particularly vulnerable population. We study social, clinical and mental factors of LTS in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, with a particular focus on people who inject drugs (PWID).

METHODS

We quantified differences between PWID LTS, and men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual (HET) LTS. Using phylogenetic methods, we distinguished between heterosexual LTS who most likely shared a social network with PWID at the time of infection, termed clusteredHET, and those who did not, termed HET not clustered (HETnc). The analysis was performed using data collected at least 15 years post diagnosis.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,663 of 5,686 (29.2%) PWID were LTS. We found significant differences between PWID LTS and MSM/HETnc LTS regarding self-reported depression (59.4% versus 43.3%; odds ratio [OR]=1.8; P<0.001), incarceration (30.6% versus 7.0%; OR=6.9; P<0.001) and full work ability (25.4% versus 59.0%; OR=0.27; P<0.001). ClusteredHET were less vulnerable with respect to these variables than PWID LTS but more at risk compared with MSM/HETnc LTS, indicating that clusteredHET are closer to PWID with regard to social and mental aspects compared with all MSM/HETnc.

CONCLUSIONS

Even more than 15 years post HIV diagnosis, special care for HIV-positive PWID is needed, with emphasis on mental health and social integration of PWID LTS.

Mortality among people with regular or problematic use of amphetamines: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Amphetamines are the second most commonly used class of illicit drugs. We aimed to produce pooled estimates of mortality risks among people with regular or dependent use of amphetamines, with a focus upon all-cause mortality as well as specific causes of death.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohorts of people with problematic use or dependence on amphetamines with data on all-cause or cause-specific mortality.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Of 4240 papers, 30 were eligible, reporting on 25 cohorts that measured all-cause mortality, drug poisoning, suicide, accidental injuries, homicide and cardiovascular mortality. Cohorts (n = 35-74 139) were in North America, several Nordic countries and Asia Pacific.

MEASUREMENT

Titles/abstracts were independently screened by one reviewer and excluded those reviewed by a second reviewer. Full-text screening was by two reviewers with discrepancies resolved via a third reviewer. We extracted data on crude mortality rates (CMR) per 100 person-years (py), standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). We imputed SMRs where possible if not reported by study authors. We also calculated mortality relative risks. Data were pooled using random-effects models; potential reasons for heterogeneity were explored using subgroup analyses and meta-regressions.

FINDINGS

Twenty-three cohorts contributed data for the pooled all-cause CMR: 1.14 per 100 py [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92-1.42]. Pooled cause-specific mortality rates were: drug poisoning, 0.14 per 100 py (95% CI = 0.06-0.34); cardiovascular disease, 0.13 per 100 py (95% CI = 0.06-0.29); suicide, 0.20 per 100 py (95% CI = 0.07-0.55); accidental injury, 0.20 per 100 py (95% CI = 0.08-0.47) and homicide, 0.03 per 100 py (95% CI = 0.02-0.06). There was substantial heterogeneity for all pooled CMR estimates except homicide. The pooled all-cause SMR was 6.83 (95% CI = 5.27-8.84). Pooled cause-specific SMRS were: poisoning, 24.70 (95% CI = 16.67, 36.58); homicide, 11.90 (95% CI = 7.82-18.12); suicide, 12.20 (95% CI = 4.89-30.47); cardiovascular disease, 5.12 (95% CI = 3.74-7.00) and accidental injury, 5.12 (95% CI = 2.88-9.08).

CONCLUSIONS

People with regular or dependent amphetamine use are at elevated risk of a range of causes of mortality compared with people without regular or dependent amphetamine use.

Homelessness at diagnosis is associated with death among people with HIV in a population-based study of a US city

OBJECTIVE

San Francisco, California, has experienced a 44% reduction in new HIV diagnoses since 2013 supported by its 'Getting to Zero' initiative; however, the age-adjusted mortality rate in people with HIV (PWH) has not decreased. We sought to identify factors associated with death among PWH in San Francisco.

DESIGN

Population-based incidence-density case-control study.

METHODS

Among PWH in the San Francisco HIV surveillance registry, a random sample of 48 decedents from 1 July 2016 to 31 May 2017 were each matched to two to three controls who were alive at the date of death (108 controls matched on age and time since diagnosis). Covariates included demographics, substance use, housing status, medical conditions, and care indicators from the study population. We used matched-pair conditional logistic regression to examine factors associated with mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 156 PWH in the study, 14% were African-American, 14% Latino, and 8% female sex. In adjusted analysis, factors associated with higher odds of death included: homelessness at HIV diagnosis [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 27.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.0-552.1], prior-year IDU (AOR = 10.2; 95% CI = 1.7-128.5), prior-year tobacco use (AOR = 7.2; 95% CI = 1.7-46.9), being off antiretroviral therapy at any point in the prior year (AOR = 6.8; 95% CI = 1.1-71.4), and being unpartnered vs. married/partnered (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI = 1.3-22.0).

CONCLUSION

People homeless at HIV diagnosis had 27-fold higher odds of death compared with those with housing; substance use and retention on antiretroviral therapy in the prior year are other important intervenable factors. New strategies to address these barriers, and continued investment in supportive housing and substance use treatment, are needed.

Depressive Symptoms at HIV Testing and Two-Year All-Cause Mortality Among Men Who Inject Drugs in Vietnam

People who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV experience an elevated risk of death. A potentially important determinant of survival is the high burden of depression. This study examined the relationship of depressive symptoms at HIV testing with 2-year all-cause mortality among newly diagnosed HIV-positive PWID in Vietnam. At HIV testing, 141 PWID (42%) experienced severe depressive symptoms, and over the 2 years following diagnosis, 82 PWID (24%) died. Controlling for potential confounders, the 2-year risk of death among those with depressive symptoms was 9.7% (95% CI - 1.2, 20.6%) higher than the risk among those without depressive symptoms. This increased risk of mortality for PWID with depressive symptoms was relatively consistent throughout the 2-year period: at 6, 12, and 18 months, the risk difference was 12.6% (5.5-19.7%), 13.9% (4.6-23.2%), and 11.0% (0.9-21.1%), respectively. HIV diagnosis may provide an important opportunity for depression screening and treatment, subsequently improving survival in this key population.Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01689545.

Influence of Injection Drug Use-Related HIV Acquisition on CD4 Response to First Antiretroviral Therapy Regimen Among Virally Suppressed Individuals

BACKGROUND

The inflammatory effects of injection drug use (IDU) may result in an impaired immune response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). We examined CD4 response to first ART regimen among individuals in routine HIV care, stratified by IDU-related HIV acquisition.

SETTING

Cohort study including patients who initiated ART between 2000 and 2015 in the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinic.

METHODS

We followed individuals from ART initiation until death, loss to follow-up, loss of viral load suppression (<500 copies/mL), or administrative censoring. We described CD4 trajectories after ART initiation using inverse probability weighted quantile regression models with restricted cubic splines for time. Weights accounted for differences in baseline characteristics of persons comparing those with IDU-related HIV acquisition to those with other HIV acquisition risks (non-IDU) and possible nondifferential censoring due to death, loss to follow-up, or loss of viral load suppression. We also examined CD4 response by strata of CD4 at ART initiation (≤200, 201-350, >350).

RESULTS

Of 1244 patients initiating ART, 30.4% were IDU. Absolute CD4 cell difference at the 50th percentile comparing IDU with non-IDU was -25 cells [95% confidence interval (CI): -63 to 35], -66 cells (95% CI: -141 to 16), and -91 cells (95% CI: -190 to -5) at 2, 4, and 6 years after ART initiation, respectively. Results were similar (non-IDU with slightly higher CD4 count, but not statistically significant differences) at other percentiles and stratified by baseline CD4.

CONCLUSIONS

CD4 recovery after ART initiation was similar for IDU and non-IDU, conditional on consistent viral load suppression.

Research priorities to inform "Treat All" policy implementation for people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a consensus statement from the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA)

INTRODUCTION

"Treat All" - the treatment of all people with HIV, irrespective of disease stage or CD4 cell count - represents a paradigm shift in HIV care that has the potential to end AIDS as a public health threat. With accelerating implementation of Treat All in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is a need for a focused agenda and research to identify and inform strategies for promoting timely uptake of HIV treatment, retention in care, and sustained viral suppression and addressing bottlenecks impeding implementation.

METHODS

The Delphi approach was used to develop consensus around research priorities for Treat All implementation in SSA. Through an iterative process (June 2017 to March 2018), a set of research priorities was collectively formulated and refined by a technical working group and shared for review, deliberation and prioritization by more than 200 researchers, implementation experts, policy/decision-makers, and HIV community representatives in East, Central, Southern and West Africa.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The process resulted in a list of nine research priorities for generating evidence to guide Treat All policies, implementation strategies and monitoring efforts. These priorities highlight the need for increased focus on adolescents, men, and those with mental health and substance use disorders - groups that remain underserved in SSA and for whom more effective testing, linkage and care strategies need to be identified. The priorities also reflect consensus on the need to: (1) generate accurate national and sub-national estimates of the size of key populations and describe those who remain underserved along the HIV-care continuum; (2) characterize the timeliness of HIV care and short- and long-term HIV care continuum outcomes, as well as factors influencing timely achievement of these outcomes; (3) estimate the incidence and prevalence of HIV-drug resistance and regimen switching; and (4) identify cost-effective and affordable service delivery models and strategies to optimize uptake and minimize gaps, disparities, and losses along the HIV-care continuum, particularly among underserved populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflecting consensus among a broad group of experts, researchers, policy- and decision-makers, PLWH, and other stakeholders, the resulting research priorities highlight important evidence gaps that are relevant for ministries of health, funders, normative bodies and research networks.

The Cumulative Impact of Harm Reduction on the Swiss HIV Epidemic: Cohort Study, Mathematical Model, and Phylogenetic Analysis

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among injecting drug users (IDUs) is increasing in the United States due to the recent opioid epidemic and is the leading mode of transmission in Eastern Europe.

Methods

To evaluate the overall impact of HIV harm reduction, we combined (1) data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and public sources with (2) a mathematical model expressed as a system of ordinary differential equations. The model reconstructs the national epidemic from the first case in 1980 until 2015. Phylogenetic cluster analysis of HIV-1 pol sequences was used to quantify the epidemic spillover from IDUs to the general population.

Results

Overall, harm reduction prevented 15903 (range, 15359–16448) HIV infections among IDUs until the end of 2015, 5446 acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) deaths (range, 5142–5752), and a peak HIV prevalence of 50.7%. Introduction of harm reduction 2 years earlier could have halved the epidemic, preventing 3161 (range, 822–5499) HIV infections and 1468 (range, 609–2326) AIDS deaths. Suddenly discontinuing all harm reduction in 2005 would have resulted in outbreak re-emergence with 1351 (range, 779–1925) additional HIV cases. Without harm reduction, the estimated additional number of heterosexuals infected by HIV-positive IDUs is estimated to have been 2540 (range, 2453–2627), which is equivalent to the total national reported incidence among heterosexuals in the period of 2007 to 2015.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a paramount, population-level impact occurred because of the harm reduction package, beyond factors that can be explained by a reduction in risk behavior and a decrease in the number of drug users over time.

Is substance use associated with HIV cascade outcomes in Latin America?

BACKGROUND

The HIV care cascade has improved in Latin America over the last decade. However, the influence of alcohol and noninjected drug use (NIDU) on cascade outcomes is mostly unknown. This study estimated the association of alcohol and NIDU with retention in care, loss to follow up (LTFU), and virologic failure (VF).

METHODS

Individuals ≥18 years attending routine HIV clinic visits and completing the Rapid Screening Tool (RST; evaluating NIDU and ART adherence in 7-day recall period) during 2012-13 were followed up to 2015 in the Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated for the association of alcohol consumption and NIDU with retention in care by logistic regression; adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were estimated for the associations with LTFU and VF by Cox regression.

RESULTS

Among 3604 individuals, the proportions retained in care for one year were 84%, 79%, 72%, and 69% for patients reporting non-use, alcohol use, NIDU, and both alcohol and NIDU, respectively. For the same patient groups, the proportions LTFU over 18 months were 6%, 8%, 12%, and 13%, respectively. There were 1901 patients (53%) with HIV RNA results; VF proportions were similar between users and nonusers (ranging from 14-16%). After controlling for age, sex, study site, HIV transmission mode, time on ART, AIDS status, and CD4 count, neither alcohol use (aOR = 1.1, CI = 0.9-1.4; aHR = 1.0, CI = 0.8-1.3) nor NIDU (aOR = 1.3, CI = 0.9-1.8; aHR = 1.4, CI = 0.9-2.1) were significantly associated with retention or VF, respectively. However, both alcohol use (aHR = 1.2, CI = 1.02-1.4) and NIDU (aHR = 1.3, CI = 1.00-1.8) were associated with increased LTFU.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol use and NIDU in a 7-day recall period increased the risk of being LTFU during the next 18 months, highlighting the need for routine screening and targeted interventions to keep these individuals in care and on ART.

Patterns of HIV testing, drug use, and sexual behaviors in people who use drugs: findings from a community-based outreach program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Background

People who use drugs are an important priority for HIV programs. However, data related to their utilization of HIV services are limited. This paper reports patterns of HIV testing, drug use, and risk and service perception among people who use drugs. Study participants were receiving HIV and harm reduction services from a community-based program in Phnom Penh, comprised of itinerant peer-led outreach and static drop-in centers.

Methods

This was a mixed-methods study conducted in 2014, comprising of a quantitative survey using a structured questionnaire, followed by two focus group discussions among a sub-sample of survey participants. Participants were recruited from hotspots in five HIV high-burden communes using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Quantitative descriptive analyses and qualitative thematic analyses were performed.

Results

This study included 151 people who use drugs with a mean age of 31.2 (SD = 6.5) years; 77.5% were male and 39.1% were married. The most common drugs used were methamphetamines (72.8%) and heroin (39.7%), and 38.0% injected drugs in the past 3 months. Overall, 83.3% had been tested for HIV in the past 6 months, of whom 62.5% had been tested by peers through community-based outreach. However, there were ongoing HIV risks: 37.3% were engaging in sex on drugs, only 35.6% used a condom at last sexual intercourse, and 10.8% had had a sexually transmitted infection in the last 6 months. Among people who reported injecting drugs in the past 3 months, 27.5% reported re-using needles/syringes. Almost half (46.5%) perceived themselves as being at lower risk of HIV compared to the general population. Qualitative results contextualized the findings of low perception of HIV risks and suggested that although services were often unavailable on weekends, at night, or during national holidays, peer-led community-based outreach was highly accepted.

Conclusions

A peer-led community-based approach was effective in reaching people who use drugs with HIV and harm reduction interventions. To mitigate ongoing HIV risks, expanding access to combination prevention interventions and implementing strategies to enable people who use drugs to objectively assess their HIV risks are required. Additionally, community-based programs should collect data along the care continuum, to enable decentralized tracking of progress towards 90–90–90 goals at local levels.

Late presentation of HIV infection in the country of Georgia: 2012-2015

Late presentation for HIV care has important individual and population implications. The objective of this study was to explore the problem of late presentation in the country of Georgia. Data on adult persons newly diagnosed with HIV in Georgia between 2012 and 2015 were extracted from the national AIDS Health Information System. Late presenter was defined as a person diagnosed with HIV with a CD4 cell count <350 cells/mm³ or an AIDS defining illness regardless of the CD4 cell count in the six months after HIV diagnosis. Late presenter with advanced disease was defined as a person diagnosed with HIV with a CD4 cell count <200 cells/mm³ or an AIDS defining illness, regardless of CD4 cell count in the six months after HIV diagnosis. Among 2267 adults diagnosed with HIV in Georgia in 2012–2015, 1987 (87.6%) had CD4 cell count measured within 6 months of HIV diagnosis and were included in the analysis. Among them 1260 (63.4%) patients were classified as late presenters and 870 (43.8%) as late presenters with advanced disease. The proportion of late presenters declined from 71.1% in 2012 to 55.5% in 2015 (p<0.0001), while presentation late with advanced disease decreased from 56.6% in 2012 to 34.5% in 2015 (p<0.0001). Late presentation was most common among people who inject drugs (77.7%). Overall 186 patients died over the studied period. Mortality was higher both among late presenters (6.74 per 100 person-years vs. 1.08 per 100 person-years, p<0.0001) and late presenters with advanced disease (8.93 per 100 person-years vs. 1.34 per 100 person-years, p<0.0001). High prevalence of late presentation in Georgia reflects insufficiency in HIV testing services. Better testing strategies are needed to improve earlier diagnosis and disease outcomes.

Trends in life expectancy of HIV-positive adults on antiretroviral therapy across the globe: comparisons with general population

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Improved virological and immunological outcomes and reduced toxicity of antiretroviral combination therapy (ART) raise the hope that life expectancy of HIV-positive persons on ART will approach that of the general population. We systematically review the literature and summarize published estimates of life expectancy of HIV-positive populations on ART. We compare their life expectancy with the life expectancy of the general or, in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV-negative populations, by time period and gender.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ten relevant studies were published from 2006 to 2015. Three studies were from Canada, two from European countries, three from sub-Saharan Africa and two were multicountry studies. Life expectancy increased over time in all studies and regions. Expressed as the percentage of life expectancy in the HIV-negative or general population, estimated life expectancy at age 20 years in HIV-positive people on ART ranged from 60.3% (95% CI 58.0-62.6%) in Rwanda (2008-2011) to 89.1% (95% CI 84.7-93.6%) in Canada (2008-2012). The percentage of life expectancy in the HIV-negative or general population achieved was higher in HIV-positive women than in HIV-positive men in all countries, except for Canada wherein the opposite was the case.

SUMMARY

Life expectancy in HIV-positive people on ART has improved worldwide in recent years, but important gaps remain compared with the general and HIV-negative population, and between regions and genders.

Daily Marijuana Use is Associated with Missed Clinic Appointments Among HIV-Infected Persons Engaged in HIV Care

We assessed the association between marijuana use and retention in HIV care through a retrospective cohort study of patients engaged in care at a large HIV clinic in 2011 and 2012. Two different retention outcomes were assessed: not meeting the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) retention definition (≥2 provider visits ≥90 days apart in a calendar year) and no-show visits. Any marijuana use and frequency of marijuana use were obtained from a substance use screening questionnaire administered at each clinic visit. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between marijuana use and retention outcomes. Marijuana use was reported by 17% of 1791 patients and 21% were not retained (IOM definition). Marijuana use was not associated with the IOM retention outcome, but was associated with missing the next scheduled appointment. A non-linear dose-response was observed for frequency of marijuana use and missed visits, with daily users having the highest risk compared to non-users. Daily marijuana use had a negative impact on HIV clinic attendance. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which marijuana use affects this outcome to inform targeted interventions.

Exploring the HIV continuum of care among young black MSM

BACKGROUND

HIV disproportionately impacts young, black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) who experience disparities across the HIV care continuum. A more nuanced understanding of facilitators and barriers to engagement in care, missed visits, antiretroviral uptake, adherence and viral suppression could improve care and intervention design.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial of an online intervention, healthMpowerment, enrolled 465 YBMSM (18-30 years); 193 identified as HIV-positive. Bivariable and multivariable analyses of baseline data explored predictors of: engagement in care, missed visits, antiretroviral uptake, self-reported adherence, and viral suppression.

RESULTS

Mean age was 24.9 years; most identified as gay (71.0%) and were receiving HIV care (89.1%). Among those in care, 52.1% reported no missed visits in the past 12 months, 41 (24.6%) reported one missed visit, and 39 (23.4%) reported two or more. Having insurance (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 4.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 15.8) and provider self-efficacy (POR 20.1; 95% CI: 6.1, 64.1) were associated with being in care. Those with a college degree (POR 9.1; 95% CI: 1.9, 45.2) and no recent marijuana (POR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.6) or methamphetamine use (POR 5.4; 95% CI: 1.0, 28.5) were less likely to miss visits. Most (n = 153, 84.1%) had been prescribed antiretroviral therapy. A majority of participants (70.8%) reported ≥90% adherence; those with depressive symptoms had 4.7 times the odds of reporting adherence <90% (95% CI: 1.65, 13.37). Of participants who reported viral load testing in the past six months, 65% (n = 102) reported an undetectable viral load. Disclosure to sex partners was associated with viral suppression (POR 6.0; 95% CI: 1.6, 22.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Multi-level facilitators and barriers to engagement across the continuum of care were identified in this sample of YBMSM. Understanding the distinct needs of YBMSM at each stage of the continuum and addressing them through tailored approaches is critical for long term success in care.

Recreational drug use and chemsex among HIV-infected in-patients: a unique screening opportunity

OBJECTIVES

While a high rate of recreational drug use (RDU) has been documented among HIV-infected out-patients, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM), there is a distinct lack of data for HIV-infected in-patients. Hospital admission offers a unique opportunity to engage drug users. We aimed to establish and characterize RDU among new admissions to a large dedicated London HIV in-patient unit and compare it to RDU among general medical admissions to inform clinical pathways.

METHODS

A prospective opt-out survey was administered to all new HIV-positive admissions over a 10-week period (cases) and all medical Acute Assessment Unit admissions over two 24-h periods (controls). All provided consent for urine toxicology upon admission.

RESULTS

Data were collected in 59 of 65 (91%) newly admitted HIV-positive individuals and in 48 of 54 (89%) non-HIV-positive medical admissions. HIV-infected in-patients were more likely than non-HIV-positive medical admissions to be male (P < 0.0001) (71% MSM), to be younger (P < 0.0001), to report current RDU (41 vs. 10%, respectively; P = 0.0001), to have a positive urine toxicology screen (19 vs. 2%, respectively; P = 0.0091) and to be a drug-related admission (15% vs. none; P = 0.004). Thirteen of 26 HIV-infected current recreational drug users admitted to sexualized drug taking and nine to injecting drugs. Twenty-seven per cent (seven of 26) were known to drug services. Crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone, gamma butyrolactone/gamma hydroxybutyrate and ketamine were exclusively taken by MSM. In total, 13 of 59 HIV-infected in-patients had current or past infection with hepatitis C virus, of whom 92% reported lifetime drug use.

CONCLUSIONS

These data strongly support the use of formal screening and drug service referral pathways at the time of admission to hospital to engage HIV-positive drug users.

Mortality in HIV-Infected Alcohol and Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia

In Russia, up to half of premature deaths are attributed to hazardous drinking. The respective roles of alcohol and drug use in premature death among people with HIV in Russia have not been described. Criminalization and stigmatization of substance use in Russia may also contribute to mortality. We explored whether alcohol, drug use and risk environment factors are associated with short-term mortality in HIV-infected Russians who use substances. Secondary analyses were conducted using prospective data collected at baseline, 6 and 12-months from HIV-infected people who use substances recruited between 2007-2010 from addiction and HIV care settings in a single urban setting of St. Petersburg, Russia. We used Cox proportional hazards models to explore associations between 30-day alcohol hazardous drinking, injection drug use, polysubstance use and environmental risk exposures (i.e. past incarceration, police involvement, selling sex, and HIV stigma) with mortality. Among 700 participants, 59% were male and the mean age was 30 years. There were 40 deaths after a median follow-up of 12 months (crude mortality rate 5.9 per 100 person-years). In adjusted analyses, 30-day NIAAA hazardous drinking was significantly associated with mortality compared to no drinking [adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 2.60, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.24-5.44] but moderate drinking was not (aHR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.35-2.59). No other factors were significantly associated with mortality. The high rates of short-term mortality and the strong association with hazardous drinking suggest a need to integrate evidence-based alcohol interventions into treatment strategies for HIV-infected Russians.

Reducing rates of preventable HIV/AIDS-associated mortality among people living with HIV who inject drugs

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) era has seen substantial reductions in mortality among people living with HIV. However, HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWIDs) continue to experience high rates of suboptimal HIV-related outcomes. We review recent findings regarding factors contributing to premature and preventable mortality among HIV-positive PWID, and describe the promise of interventions to improve survival in this group.

RECENT FINDINGS

The current leading causes of death among HIV-positive PWID are HIV/AIDS-related causes, overdose, and liver-related causes, including infection with hepatitis C virus. Elevated mortality levels in this population are driven by social-structural barriers to ART access and adherence, particularly criminalization and stigmatization of drug use. In contexts where opioid substitution therapy and ART adherence support programs are widely accessible, evidence highlights comparable levels of survival among HIV-positive PWID and people living with HIV who do not inject drugs.

SUMMARY

The life-saving benefits of ART can be realized among HIV-positive PWID when it is paired with strategies that address barriers to evidence-based medical care. Joint administration of ART and opioid substitution therapy, as well as repeal of punitive laws that criminalize drug users, are urgently needed to reduce HIV and injection-related mortality among PWID.

Triangulating Syndemic Services and Drug Treatment Policy: Improving Drug Treatment Portal Locations in Baltimore City

THE PROBLEM

The prevalence of injection drug use (IDU) and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain high in Baltimore, where IDU is a primary HIV risk factor. Substance use disorders and HIV are related syndemically--their causes and consequences interact synergistically. Baltimore is increasingly considering the syndemic relationship of substance use disorders, IDU, and HIV in making decisions about drug treatment funding and location.

PURPOSE OF ARTICLE

Our goal was to empirically identify the optimal location of new drug treatment programs through the development and application of a novel, practical tool.

KEY POINTS

Syndemic triangles were constructed to measure and visualize unmet need for drug treatment services. These data were used to determine priority zones for new treatment centers.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of this tool helped inform strategies for locating drug treatment services in Baltimore, and its successful use suggests its potential value in other metropolitan areas.

Cause-Specific Mortality in HIV-Positive Patients Who Survived Ten Years after Starting Antiretroviral Therapy

OBJECTIVES

To estimate mortality rates and prognostic factors in HIV-positive patients who started combination antiretroviral therapy between 1996-1999 and survived for more than ten years.

METHODS

We used data from 18 European and North American HIV cohort studies contributing to the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration. We followed up patients from ten years after start of combination antiretroviral therapy. We estimated overall and cause-specific mortality rate ratios for age, sex, transmission through injection drug use, AIDS, CD4 count and HIV-1 RNA.

RESULTS

During 50,593 person years 656/13,011 (5%) patients died. Older age, male sex, injecting drug use transmission, AIDS, and low CD4 count and detectable viral replication ten years after starting combination antiretroviral therapy were associated with higher subsequent mortality. CD4 count at ART start did not predict mortality in models adjusted for patient characteristics ten years after start of antiretroviral therapy. The most frequent causes of death (among 340 classified) were non-AIDS cancer, AIDS, cardiovascular, and liver-related disease. Older age was strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality, injecting drug use transmission with non-AIDS infection and liver-related mortality, and low CD4 and detectable viral replication ten years after starting antiretroviral therapy with AIDS mortality. Five-year mortality risk was <5% in 60% of all patients, and in 30% of those aged over 60 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Viral replication, lower CD4 count, prior AIDS, and transmission via injecting drug use continue to predict higher all-cause and AIDS-related mortality in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy for over a decade. Deaths from AIDS and non-AIDS infection are less frequent than deaths from other non-AIDS causes.

Overview of HIV molecular epidemiology among people who inject drugs in Europe and Asia

HIV strains continuously evolve, tend to recombine, and new circulating variants are being discovered. Novel strains complicate efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV and may exhibit higher transmission efficiency and virulence, and elevated resistance to antiretroviral agents. The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set an ambitious goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 through comprehensive strategies that include epidemiological input as the first step of the process. In this context, molecular epidemiology becomes invaluable as it captures trends in HIV evolution rates that shape epidemiological pictures across several geographical areas. This review briefly summarizes the molecular epidemiology of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe and Asia. Following high transmission rates of subtype G and CRF14_BG among PWID in Portugal and Spain, two European countries, Greece and Romania, experienced recent HIV outbreaks in PWID that consisted of multiple transmission clusters including subtypes B, A, F1, and recombinants CRF14_BG and CRF35_AD. The latter was first identified in Afghanistan. Russia, Ukraine, and other Former Soviet Union (FSU) states are still facing the devastating effects of epidemics in PWID produced by A_FSU (also known as IDU-A), B_FSU (known as IDU-B), and CRF03_AB. In Asia, CRF01_AE and subtype B (Western B and Thai B) travelled from PWID in Thailand to neighboring countries. Recombination hotspots in South China, Northern Myanmar, and Malaysia have been generating several intersubtype and inter-CRF recombinants (e.g. CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, CRF33_01B etc.), increasing the complexity of HIV molecular patterns.

Low Non-structured Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions in HIV-Infected Persons Who Inject Drugs Receiving Multidisciplinary Comprehensive HIV Care at an Outpatient Drug Abuse Treatment Center

Continuous HIV treatment is necessary to ensure successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of patient-initiated non-structured treatment interruptions in HIV-infected persons who inject drugs and who received a multidisciplinary comprehensive program, including medical HIV care, drug-dependence treatment and psychosocial support, at a drug outpatient addiction center. Non-structured treatment interruptions were defined as ≥30 consecutive days off cART without medical indication. During a median follow-up of 53.8 months, 37/132 (28 %) patients experienced the first non-structured treatment interruptions. The cumulative probability of cART interruption at 5 years was 31.2 % (95 % CI 22.4-40.0). Current drug use injection ≥1/day (HR 14.77; 95 % CI 5.90-36.96) and cART naive patients (HR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.14-0.93) were predictive factors for non-structured treatment interruptions. HIV care provided at a drug addiction center is a useful strategy to sustain continuous cART, however, drug abstinence is essential for the long-term maintenance of cART.

Frequency of and Risk Factors for Depression among Participants in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS)

Objectives

We studied the incidence and prevalence of, and co-factors for depression in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Methods

Depression-specific items were introduced in 2010 and prospectively collected at semiannual cohort visits. Clinical, laboratory and behavioral co-factors of incident depression among participants free of depression at the first two visits in 2010 or thereafter were analyzed with Poisson regression. Cumulative prevalence of depression at the last visit was analyzed with logistic regression.

Results

Among 4,422 participants without a history of psychiatric disorders or depression at baseline, 360 developed depression during 9,348 person-years (PY) of follow-up, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.9 per 100 PY (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5–4.3). Cumulative prevalence of depression during follow-up was recorded for 1,937/6,756 (28.7%) participants. Incidence and cumulative prevalence were higher in injection drug users (IDU) and women. Older age, preserved work ability and higher physical activity were associated with less depression episodes. Mortality (0.96 per 100 PY, 95% CI 0.83–1.11) based upon 193 deaths over 20,102 PY was higher among male IDU (2.34, 1.78–3.09), female IDU (2.33, 1.59–3.39) and white heterosexual men (1.32, 0.94–1.84) compared to white heterosexual women and homosexual men (0.53, 0.29–0.95; and 0.71, 0.55–0.92). Compared to participants free of depression, mortality was slightly elevated among participants with a history of depression (1.17, 0.94–1.45 vs. 0.86, 0.71–1.03, P = 0.033). Suicides (n = 18) did not differ between HIV transmission groups (P = 0.50), but were more frequent among participants with a prior diagnosis of depression (0.18 per 100 PY, 95%CI 0.10–0.31; vs. 0.04, 0.02–0.10; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Depression is a frequent co-morbidity among HIV-infected persons, and thus an important focus of care.

Challenges in managing HIV in people who use drugs

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

HIV management in people who use drugs (PWUD) is typically complex and challenging due to the presence of multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities as well as social, physical, economic and legal factors that often disrupt the HIV continuum of care. In this review, we describe the individual, health systems and societal barriers to HIV treatment access and care retention for PWUD. In addition, the clinical management of HIV-infected PWUD is often complicated by the presence of multiple infectious and noninfectious comorbidities.

RECENT FINDINGS

Improved HIV treatment outcomes can be enhanced through improved testing and linkage strategies along with better treatment retention and antiretroviral (ART) adherence. Improved ART adherence can be achieved through the provision of opioid substitution therapy (OST), directly administered ART (DAART) and integration of ART with OST services. Recent advances with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have shown superior outcomes than interferon-based regimes in HIV-HCV coinfected patients. Newer diagnostic technologies for tuberculosis (TB) hold promise for earlier diagnosis for PWUD coinfected with TB, and TB treatment outcomes are improved through combination with OST.

SUMMARY

HIV-infected PWUDs are a key population who frequently experience suboptimal outcomes along the HIV continuum of care. A comprehensive strategy that encompasses evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions that target the individual, family, healthcare system, legal and societal structure is required to ensure greater participation and success in HIV treatment and care.