Retention in HIV care and factors associated with loss to follow-up in Oman: a countrywide study from the Middle East

Abstract

ABSTRACT We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to determine the rate of retention in HIV care and the factors associated with loss to follow-up (LTFU) among Omani adults living with HIV who were linked to care as of 31 December 2019. Patients (n = 1610) were identified from a central national HIV surveillance dataset. The majority (68.3%) of patients were male, and the median age was 39 years (IQR, 31–48 years). A total of 1480 patient (91.9%) were retained in care. On multivariate analysis, compared to those who received antiretroviral therapy (ART), patients who had never been on ART were 6.8 (95% CI: 3.05–15.16) times more likely to be lost to follow-up. Patients who had a latest HIV viral load (VL) of 200–999 copies/ml (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.92, 95% CI: 2.27–10.69) and ≥ 1000 copies/ml (aOR: 15.03, 95% CI: 8.31–27.19) compared to those who had a latest HIV VL of <200 copies/ml had higher odds of loss to follow-up. Moreover, patients who were divorced or widowed were 2.64 (95% CI: 1.14–6.07) times more likely to disengage from HIV services, compared to those who were married. These findings will be invaluable in developing targeted interventions that further improve patients’ retention in HIV care in Oman.