US South Shows Small Gains in HIV Care Outcome Trends

Early diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), linkage to care, and viral suppression increased in the southern United States between 2015 and 2019, according to study results published in the Annals of Epidemiology.

“HIV disparities continue to persist in the southern United States and among some populations,” explained lead and corresponding author Zanetta Gant, PhD, MS, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and coauthors in the study background. “Early HIV diagnosis, prompt linkage to care, and viral suppression among persons with HIV in the South, in particular the Deep South, are critical to reduce disparities and achieve national prevention goals.”

The study included 95,488 people diagnosed with HIV in the South, including 81,848 in the Deep South.

Between 2015 and 2019, patients diagnosed at stage 0 increased 9.0%, while those diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 increased 1.8%, according to the study.

The period also saw a 2.9% increase in linkage to HIV medical care, and a 5.9% increase in viral suppression.

Among people who are American Indian/Alaska Native, and people with HIV infection stemming from injection drug use, changes in HIV care outcomes were minimal, the study found.

“To reach the goals of Ending the HIV Epidemic and other federal initiatives, efforts need to focus on prevention and care among persons residing in the South,” the study concluded. “Addressing factors such as stigma and discrimination and elimination of barriers to HIV testing, care, and treatment are needed to effectively address these disparities in HIV-related care outcomes.”

Reference:
Gant Z, Dailey A, Wang S, et al. Trends in HIV care outcomes among adults and adolescents in the US South, 2015-2019. Ann Epidemiol. Published online May 4, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2022.04.011