Abstract
Since the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) (1) and the establishment of the federal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Continuum Initiative (2), federal efforts have accelerated to improve and increase HIV testing, care, and treatment and to reduce HIV-related disparities in the United States. National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS)* data are used to monitor progress toward reaching NHAS goals,† and recent data indicate that blacks have lower levels of care and viral suppression than do persons of other racial and ethnic groups (3). Among persons with HIV infection diagnosed through 2012 who were alive at year-end 2013, 68.1% of blacks received any HIV medical care compared with 74.4% of whites (3). CDC used NHSS data to describe HIV care outcomes among blacks who received a diagnosis of HIV. Among blacks with HIV infection diagnosed in 2014, 21.9% had infection classified as HIV stage 3 (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]) at the time of diagnosis compared with 22.5% of whites; 71.6% of blacks were linked to care within 1 month after diagnosis compared with 79.0% of whites. Among blacks with HIV infection diagnosed through 2012 who were alive on December 31, 2013, 53.5% were receiving continuous HIV medical care compared with 58.2% of whites; 48.5% of blacks achieved viral suppression compared with 62.0% of whites. Intensified efforts and implementation of effective interventions and public health strategies that increase engagement in care and viral suppression among blacks (1,4) are needed to achieve NHAS goals.
Highlights
Increasing the proportion of black persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are receiving care is critical for achieving the National HIV/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Strategy 2020 goals to reduce new infections, improve health outcomes, and decrease health disparities
In 2014, among blacks aged ≥13 years with diagnosed HIV, approximately one in five (21.9%) infections were classified as stage 3 (AIDS) at the time of diagnosis and 71.6% were linked to care within 1 month of diagnosis
Among all blacks living with diagnosed HIV at year-end 2013 in the 33 jurisdictions with complete laboratory reporting, 53.5% were retained in care and 48.5% had achieved viral suppression
Summary
Since the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) (1) and the establishment of the federal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Continuum Initiative (2), federal efforts have accelerated to improve and increase HIV testing, care, and treatment and to reduce HIV-related disparities in the United States. Among blacks with HIV infection diagnosed through 2012 who were alive on December 31, 2013, 53.5% were receiving continuous HIV medical care compared with 58.2% of whites; 48.5% of blacks achieved viral suppression compared with 62.0% of whites. The District of Columbia, and U.S territories report cases of HIV infection and associated demographic and clinical information to NHSS. Reporting.¶ These jurisdictions accounted for 65.3% of blacks living with diagnosed HIV infection at year-end 2013 in the United States. Retention in care and viral suppression were assessed among blacks with HIV diagnosed by December 31, 2012, and who were alive and resided (based on the most recent known address) in any of the 33 jurisdictions as of December 31, 2013 (i.e., persons living with diagnosed HIV).
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