Determinants of antiretroviral therapy initiation and treatment outcomes for people living with HIV in Vietnam

Injecting drug use increases the risk of death in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Vietnam

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic remains a major public health issue worldwide. In Vietnam, the HIV epidemic is essentially driven by people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aims to compare mortality and loss to follow-up (LTFU) between PWID and other patients. From June 2017 to April 2018, HIV-infected adults were enrolled in a prospective cohort from time of ART initiation in six provinces of North Vietnam. The end date was July 2020. Mortality and LTFU were described using competing-risk survival models. Factors associated with mortality and with LTFU were identified using Cox models with a competing-risk approach. Of the 578 participants, 261 (45.2%) were PWID and almost exclusively male. 49 patients died, corresponding to a mortality rate (95% confidence interval (CI)) of 3.7 (2.8-4.9) per 100 person-months, and 79 were lost to follow-up, corresponding to a rate (95% CI) of 6.0 (4.8-7.4) per 100 person-months. PWID were at higher risk of death but not of LTFU. Overall, LTFU was high in both groups. Latecomers to clinical visits were more at risk of both death and LTFU. Therefore, this should be a warning to clinical teams and preventive actions taken in these patients.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03249493..

Assessment of HIV viral load monitoring in remote settings in Vietnam - comparing people who inject drugs to the other patients

INTRODUCTION

Increasing access to viral load (VL) monitoring is essential to fight HIV epidemics. In remote settings in Vietnam, using dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for specimen collection could improve the situation. Here, people who inject drugs (PWID) represent many newly antiretroviral therapy (ART)-initiated patients. The goals of this evaluation were to evaluate if access to VL monitoring and the rate of virological failure differed between PWID and non-PWID.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study of patients newly initiated on ART in remote settings in Vietnam. DBS coverage at 6, 12 and 24 months of ART was investigated. Factors associated with DBS coverage were identified through logistic regression, as were factors associated with virological failure (VL ≥1,000 copies/mL) at 6, 12 and 24 months of ART.

RESULTS

Overall 578 patients were enrolled in the cohort, of whom 261 (45%) were PWID. DBS coverage improved from 74.7% to 82.9% between 6 and 24 months of ART (p = 0.001). PWID status was not associated with DBS coverage (p = 0.74), but DBS coverage was lower in patients who were late to clinical visits and in those in WHO stage 4 (p = 0.023 and p = 0.001, respectively). The virological failure rate decreased from 15.8% to 6.6% between 6 and 24 months of ART (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, PWID were more at risk of failure (p = 0.001), as were patients who were late to clinical visits (p<0.001) and not fully adherent (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite training and simple procedures, DBS coverage was not perfect. DBS coverage was not associated with PWID status. Close management is required for effective routine HIV VL monitoring. PWID were more at risk of failure, as were patients who were not fully adherent and patients who were late to clinical visits. Specific interventions targeting these patients are needed to improve their outcomes. Overall, efforts in coordination and communication are essential to improve global HIV care.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Number: NCT03249493.

Prevalence of Advanced HIV Disease, Cryptococcal Antigenemia, and Suboptimal Clinical Outcomes Among Those Enrolled in Care in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

People living with advanced HIV disease are at high risk of morbidity and mortality. We assessed the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia (CrAg) and clinical outcomes among patients newly presenting with CD4 ≤100 cells/μL in Vietnam.

SETTING

Twenty-two public HIV clinics in Vietnam.

METHODS

During August 2015-March 2017, antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve adults presenting for care with CD4 ≤100 cells/μL were screened for CrAg. Those who consented to study enrollment were followed up for up to 12 months and assessed for clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 3504 patients with CD4 results, 1354 (38.6%) had CD4 ≤100 cells/μL, of whom 1177 (86.9%) enrolled in the study. The median age was 35 years (interquartile range 30-40); 872 (74.1%) of them were men, and 892 (75.8%) had CD4 <50 cells/μL. Thirty-six patients (3.1%) were CrAg-positive. Overall, 1151 (97.8%) including all who were CrAg-positive initiated ART. Of 881 patients (76.5%) followed up for ≥12 months, 623 (70.7%) were still alive and on ART at 12 months, 54 (6.1%) had transferred to nonstudy clinics, 86 (9.8%) were lost to follow-up, and 104 (11.8%) had died. Among all 1177 study participants, 143 (12.1%) died, most of them (123, 86.0%) before or within 6 months of enrollment. Twenty-seven patients (18.9%) died of pulmonary tuberculosis, 23 (16.1%) died of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, 8 (5.6%) died of Talaromyces marneffei infection, and 6 (4.2%) died of opioid overdose. Eight deaths (5.8%) occurred among the 36 CrAg-positive individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Late presentation for HIV care was common. The high mortality after entry in care calls for strengthening of the management of advanced HIV disease.

Survival Outcomes of Vietnamese People with HIV after Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment: Role of Clinic-Related Factors

Given the rapid development of HIV clinics in Vietnam, this study evaluates the infrastructure surrounding this expansion, identifying clinic-related factors that impact survival outcomes. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among people living with HIV (PLWH) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2011 and 2015 among 62 ART clinics in 15 provinces. The mortality rate during the 717674.1 person-years of observation (PYO) was 0.29/100 PYO. Location in rural areas (versus urban) and in Central Vietnam (versus Northern Vietnam) were associated with higher risk of mortality. The risk was lower among clinics that had peer-educators. As Vietnam's HIV/AIDS program continues to expand, this data supports increasing resource allocation for rural clinics, incorporation of ART with the community's existing healthcare infrastructure in its efforts to decentralize, and integration of services to reflect patients' anticipated needs.

Feasibility of dried blood spots for HIV viral load monitoring in decentralized area in North Vietnam in a test-and-treat era, the MOVIDA project

Background

Access to HIV viral load is crucial to efficiently monitor patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and prevent HIV drug resistance acquisition. However, in some remote settings, access to viral load monitoring is still complex due to logistical and financial constraints. Use of dried blood spots (DBS) for blood collection could overcome these difficulties. This study aims to describe feasibility and operability of DBS use for routine viral load monitoring.

Methods

From June 2017 to April 2018, HIV-infected adults who initiated ART were enrolled in a prospective cohort in 43 clinical sites across 6 provinces in North Vietnam. Following national guidelines, the first viral load monitoring was planned 6 months after ART initiation. DBS were collected at the clinical site and sent by post to a central laboratory in Hanoi for viral load measurement.

Results

Of the 578 patients enrolled, 537 were still followed 6 months after ART initiation, of which DBS was collected for 397 (73.9%). The median (inter quartile range) delay between DBS collection at site level and reception at the central laboratory was 8 (6–19) days and for 70.0% viral load was measured ≤30 days after blood collection. The proportion of patients with viral load ≥1000 copies/mL at the 6 month evaluation was 15.9% (n = 59). Of these, a DBS was collected again to confirm virological failure in 15 (24.4%) of which virological failure was confirmed in 11 (73.3%).

Conclusion

Delay of DBS transfer to the central laboratory was acceptable and most viral loads were measured in ≤30 days, in-line with routine follow-up. However, the level of DBS coverage and the proportion of patients in failure for whom a confirmatory viral load was available were suboptimal, indicating that integration of viral load monitoring in the field requires, among other things, careful training and strong involvement of the local teams. The proportion of patients experiencing virological failure was in line with other reports; interestingly those who reported being non-adherent and those with a low BMI were more at risk of failure.

The Effect of a Multi-Level Intervention on the Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among HIV-Infected Men Who Inject Drugs and Were Diagnosed Late in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

BACKGROUND

In Vietnam, an estimated 256,000 people are living with HIV, and 58% of HIV-infections reported are among people who inject drugs (PWID). While antiretroviral therapy (ART) is widely available in Vietnam, marginalized hard-to-reach male PWID, demonstrate significantly reduced and delayed access to ART.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of a randomized four-arm multi-level intervention trial on ART initiation among male PWID. Our analysis was conducted among a subset of trial participants (n = 136), who were newly diagnosed as HIV-infected, treatment naïve, and eligible for ART (baseline late diagnosis). The trial arms included: 1, standard of care (HIV testing and counseling); 2, structural-level intervention (door-to-door communications and community video screenings); 3, individual-level intervention (counseling plus group support); and 4, individual-level plus structural-level intervention. In a time-to-event analysis, we used a non-parametric approach for competing risks to estimate cumulative incidence function (CIF) for ART initiation (event of interest) by arm and the difference in CIF for each trial arm as compared to Arm 1. Follow-up was conducted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Data collection occurred from 2009 to 2013.

FINDINGS

By 24-months, 61.0% initiated ART, and 30.9% had died prior to ART initiation. In the first 6 months, participants in arm 4 (individual plus community intervention) had a 28% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6-50%) increased probability of initiating ART. Despite increasing coverage of ART in all arms throughout follow-up, participants in arm 4 retained a 31% (95% CI: 5-56%) increased probability of initiating ART. The individual and community components of the intervention were only effective when delivered together.

CONCLUSIONS

Marginalized, hard-to-reach men, who do not routinely engage in HIV services, and therefore come into care late, may benefit significantly from both individual counseling and group support, in combination with community-focused stigma reduction, when being referred and attempting to initiate urgently needed ART.

Cost-effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy expansion strategies in Vietnam

This study determines an optimal strategy for scaling up ART in Vietnam by examining three initiation thresholds [350 cells/mm(3), 500 cells/mm(3), and treat all people living with HIV (PLHIV) regardless of CD4 cell counts] and treatment commencement rates among treatment-eligible PLHIV ranging from 5% to 100% within 12 months of diagnosis. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated using a Markov model, based on data from a cohort of 3449 patients who initiated ART between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009 in 13 outpatient clinics across six provinces in Vietnam. Our analyses indicated that raising treatment eligibility criteria, in line with WHO guidelines (CD4 ≤500 cells/mm(3)) or removing CD4-based criteria would both be cost-effective in Vietnam. However, the cost-effective strategy from an economic viewpoint is first to increase coverage substantially among those with lowest CD4 levels, and only when coverage increases towards saturation should initiation criteria be lifted. Universal coverage under current guidelines would cost an additional $85 million and $96 million per year if the treatment threshold was 500 cells/mm(3). These scenarios would avert 15,000 and 22,000 HIV-related deaths in 2010-2019, with ICERs of $500-$660 per QALY gained. It is imperative to increase treatment coverage for newly diagnosed PLHIV in Vietnam according to the current guidelines prior to increasing the CD4 threshold for ART initiation.

Determinants of virological failure after 1 year's antiretroviral therapy in Vietnamese people with HIV: findings from a retrospective cohort of 13 outpatient clinics in six provinces

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the proportions and causes of virological failure after one year of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Vietnam. It also evaluates the positive predictive value (PPV) of immunological criteria to detect treatment failure.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort of 3449 people with HIV who started ART between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2009 in 13 outpatient clinics in Vietnam was studied. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to calculate crude and adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for associations between patient characteristics and virological failure.

RESULTS

An estimated 6.5% (226/3449) of HIV patients in the participating clinics in Vietnam had confirmed virological failure one year after the start of ART. After adjusting for other factors, patients with a baseline CD4 count of 50-100 cells/mm(3) and 101-200 cells/mm(3) were statistically significantly less likely to have virological failure, compared to those with a baseline CD4 count lower than 50 cells/mm(3) (OR=0.61, 95% CI 0.23-0.89; and OR=0.43, 0.18-0.78, respectively). In contrast, patients with a history of injecting drug use were statistically significantly more likely to have viraemia than otherwise (OR=1.32, 1.16-1.67). The PPV of the WHO immunological criteria was 60.1% (57.1-69.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine viral load tests should be conducted early to detect virological failure and prevent unnecessary changes to second-line treatments. To improve treatment outcomes, timely ART initiation and adherence to treatment among those with history of injecting drug use should be promoted.

Associations between alcohol use disorders and adherence to antiretroviral treatment and quality of life amongst people living with HIV/AIDS

Background

We examined the association of alcohol use disorders (AUD) with adherence to and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional multi-site survey was conducted in 468 drug users and 648 non-drug users (age: 35.4 ± 7.0 years; 63.8% male) in 3 epicentres of Vietnam. AUD, ART adherence, and HRQOL were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C), the self-reported Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-HIV BREF).

Results

35.0% of drug users were hazardous drinkers, compared to 25.9% of non-drug users. 22.3% of drug users engaged in binge drinking, and 25.9% reported suboptimal ART adherence. Adjusting for propensity scores of AUD, patients who had either at-risk or binge drinking behaviour were about twice as likely to be treatment non-adherent as those who did not have AUD. Hazardous drinkers reported small to medium decrements in the Performance, Physical, Social, Spirituality, and Environment quality of life domains. Binge drinkers had a slightly higher score in Social dimension.

Conclusion

AUD is prevalent and negatively affecting adherence to and HRQOL outcomes of ART services in injection-driven HIV epidemics. Screening and intervention are recommended for AUD, especially during the stable periods of ART. Other social and psychological interventions might also enhance patients’ responses to and outcomes of ART in Vietnam.

Trends in and determinants of loss to follow up and early mortality in a rapid expansion of the antiretroviral treatment program in Vietnam: findings from 13 outpatient clinics

BACKGROUND

This study aims to describe the trends in and determinants of six month mortality and loss to follow up (LTFU) during 2005-2009 in 13 outpatient clinics in Vietnam.

METHOD

Data were obtained from clinical records of 3,449 Vietnamese HIV/AIDS patients aged 18 years or older who initiated ART between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2009. Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test, log rank test were conducted to examine the trends of baseline characteristics, six month mortality and LTFU. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to compute hazard ratio (HR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI).

RESULTS

Though there was a declining trend, the incidence of six month mortality and LTFU remained as high as 6% and 15%, respectively. Characteristics associated with six month mortality were gender (HR females versus males 0.54, 95%CI: 0.34-0.85), years of initiation (HR 2009 versus 2005 0.54, 95%CI: 0.41-0.80), low baseline CD4 (HR 350-500 cells/mm(3) versus <50 cells/mm(3) 0.26, 95%CI: 0.18-0.52), low baseline BMI (one unit increase: HR 0.96, 95%CI: 0.94-0.97), co-infection with TB (HR 1.61, 95%CI: 1.46-1.95), history of injecting drugs (HR 1.58, 95%CI: 1.31-1.78). Characteristics associated with LTFU were younger age (one year younger: HR 0.97, 95%CI: 0.95-0.98), males (HR females versus males 0.82, 95%CI: 0.63-0.95), and poor adherence (HR 0.55, 95%CI: 0.13-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

To reduce early mortality, special attention is required to ensure timely access to ART services, particularly for patients at higher risk. Patients at risk for LTFU after ART initiation should be targeted through enhancing treatment counselling and improving patient tracing system at ART clinics.