HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Research Articles

Barriers and Facilitators Along the HIV Care Cascade Among Hospitalized Adolescents in Western Kenya

Background/Objective: There are 1.7 million adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) globally, the majority of whom live in Eastern and Southern Africa. Despite increasing access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), ALHIV experience poorer HIV-related outcomes at each stage of the care cascade relative to other age groups. We sought to investigate barriers and facilitators experienced at each stage of the HIV “care cascade” – testing, linkage to care, retention in care, and adherence to and viral suppression on ART – among a cohort of hospitalized adolescents. 
 
 Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews of hospitalized ALHIV and their caregivers to investigate if crucial delays occurred at each stage of the HIV care cascade. Interviews explored barriers and facilitators at each stage, and were guided by a framework that considered adolescent- or family-level factors, developmental and mental health needs, society-level, programmatic, and health system factors. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated. Members of the study team independently coded each transcript after inter-coder reliability was established. 
 
 Results: Hospitalized ALHIV experienced critical delays in care, most frequently at the stages of HIV diagnosis and ART adherence. Common barriers to testing related to lack of awareness around perinatal HIV and unknown maternal HIV status. Barriers to adherence were complex and heterogeneous. Common barriers included lack of HIV disclosure or problematic disclosure to the adolescent; intense stigma and challenges coming to terms with one’s HIV status; and issues related to ART side effects and tolerance. Facilitators to adherence included family supervision and support in ART taking, and HIV education and adherence counseling provided at the clinic. 
 
 Conclusion and Policy Impact: Hospitalized adolescents experienced significant delays in care, most frequently at the stages of pediatric HIV diagnosis and ART adherence. Barriers to adherence are particularly complex. Interventions to address adolescent ART adherence are urgently needed.

Medication Adherence to Successful Tuberculosis Treatment Outcome among TB/HIV Patient at Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital

Tuberculosis/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB/HIV) co-infection has poorer treatment outcome compared to non-co-infected patients. To benefit from therapy and to avoid contracting treatment-resistant strains, the individuals must adherent to medications. There is limited information regarding successful TB treatment outcomes and their associated factors. Thus, the study was designed to identify medication adherence associated with treatment outcomes among TB/HIV Patients at Prof. Dr. Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital. This research was an observational study with retrospective approach from January 2015 to December 2017 by taking data from medical records and TB-01 form of TB/HIV patients in the outpatient clinic of the disease which would be used as a sample. Regarding compliance in treatment with first visit for 2-4 months, an approach using secondary data which were TB-01 Form, as well as HIV Care and Antiretroviral Therapy summary forms was used. The statistical analysis used was the bivariate analysis with the chi-square test as the statistical test. A total of 114 patients were included in the study. The outcome of treatment success obtained from this study had a patient cure rate of 91.30%. There is a significant relationship between medication adherence to successful tuberculosis treatment outcome with p-value= 0.012; OR= 5.684. There is a meaningful relation between medication compliance with treatment outcome. It is when on medication adherence, the treatment results can be declared cured in accordance with predetermined criteria, while when not on medication adherence, the treatment results are not declared cured.

Exploring the impact of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy on placenta morphology

IntroductionWomen living with HIV experience more adverse birth outcomes; the mechanisms are not fully understood. We examined placenta morphology and associations with birth outcomes in a Canadian cohort of women living with HIV (HIV+) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) from conception and HIV-uninfected (HIV−) women. MethodsTerm placentas from 94 women (40 HIV−, 54 HIV+) were studied. Trimmed placenta weight was collected. Placenta digital photos were used to compute morphometric parameters. Regression models investigated associations between log-transformed placenta parameters and birth outcomes. ResultsWe observed a trend towards lower placenta weight and smaller placenta area in the HIV+ group, both of which were significantly associated with small for gestational age births. HIV+ serostatus was associated with 6-fold (95%CI 2–20) greater odds of having placenta area in the lowest quartile (<236 cm2). Cord marginality (distance from the edge) was significantly lower in the HIV+ group (p = 0.004), with 35% of placenta having an abnormal (marginal or velamentous) cord insertion vs. 12.5% in the HIV− group (p = 0.01). Velamentous cord insertion was seen in 13% of placentas in the HIV+ vs. 0% in HIV− group (p = 0.02). A significant correlation between cord marginality and placenta thickness was observed in the HIV− group, with a more marginal cord being associated with a thicker placenta. This correlation was not observed in the HIV+ group. HIV+ placentas exposed to protease inhibitors were significantly less circular compared to the HIV− group (p = 0.03). ConclusionOur data suggest that HIV/ART exposure affects placenta morphology and is associated with higher rates of abnormal cord insertion.

Is it time for injectable antiretroviral therapy for HIV?

Is it time for injectable antiretroviral therapy for HIV?

Проблема побочных эффектов антиретровирусных препаратов при ВИЧ-инфекции.

Антиретровирусная терапия применяемая в настоящее время перевела ВИЧ инфекцию в разряд хронических контролируемых инфекций и продлила жизнь и качество жизни. Однако любой антиретровирусный препарат вызывает побочные эффекты, хотя не у всех и не всегда одинаковые. На основе анализа литературных данных оценить современное состояние проблемы побочных явлений антиретровирусной терапии у ВИЧ инфицированных пациентов. Ниже приводятся данные о побочных эффектах различных групп антиретровирусных препаратов, применяемых в прошлом и в настоящее время, а также отдельных их представителей. Антиретровирусные препараты проявляют различные побочные эффекты, в частности, митохондриальная токсичность, вызванная нуклеозидных ингибиторов обратной транскриптазы (НИОТ), вызывает широкий спектр побочных эффектов, таких как лактоацидоз, стеатоз печени, миопатия, кардиомиопатия, периферическая невропатия, панкреатит и, возможно, синдром липодистрофии. В целом, ингибиторы интегразы хорошо переносятся и вызывают минимальные лекарственные взаимодействия. Применение прежних антиретровирусных препаратов было связано с целым рядом побочных явлений, который включает в себя лактоацидоз, стеатоз печени, аллергические реакции, миопатию, кардиомиопатию, периферическую нейропатию, панкреатит и липоатрофия и т.д., эти побочные эффекты реже встречаются у новых, рекомендуемых АРВ препаратов. При лечении необходимо учитывать вероятность возникновения побочных эффектов и возможности их предотвращения.

One-year statin persistence and adherence in adults with HIV in the United States

Statin persistence and adherence are low among US adults. Most individuals with HIV in the US have high adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), but less is known about their statin persistence and adherence. We analyzed persistence and adherence to statin therapy among adults with and without HIV. We analyzed claims data from adults in the MarketScan database who initiated statin therapy between 2007 and 2016. People with HIV (n=5619) were frequency matched 1-to-4 to those without HIV (n=22,476) based on age, sex, and calendar year of statin initiation. Statin persistence was defined by having dispensed statin medication during the last 90 days of the 365 days following initiation. High statin adherence was defined as a proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥0.80 during the 365 days following initiation. Among people with HIV, the PDC for each ART was calculated. The mean age of the study population was 51 years and 85.8% were men. Statin persistence was higher among adults with versus without HIV (72.8% versus 65.2%, multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratio 1.13, 95%CI 1.11-1.15). Among those who were persistent, a higher proportion of people with versus without HIV had high statin adherence (69.6% versus 59.9%, multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratio 1.16, 95%CI 1.13-1.19). Among people with HIV and high ART adherence (minimum PDC ≥0.90), 34.6% had a PDC for statin therapy <0.80. Adults with HIV were more persistent and adherent to statin medications versus those without HIV. However, a high proportion of adults with HIV had low statin adherence.

Pharmacological data of a successful 4-days-a-week regimen in HIV antiretroviral therapy (ANRS 162-4D trial).

Few data are available on plasma concentrations of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) during intermittent treatment. To compare plasma concentrations in OFF vs ON treatment periods at several time points during treatment. During a successful 48-week multicenter study (ANRS 162-4D trial) of 4 days with treatment (ON) followed by 3 days without treatment (OFF) in adults treated by two nucleoside analogues and a third agent belonging to a boosted protease-inhibitor (PI, darunavir [DRV], atazanavir [ATV], lopinavir [LPV]) or a non-nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI, efavirenz [EFV], etravirine [ETR], rilpivirine [RPV]) conducted in 100 patients (96% success), we determined the plasma concentrations of ARV. Blood samples were collected for analysis at inclusion (W0, 7/7 strategy for all patients), W16 and W40 (ON) and at W4, W8, W12, W24, W32 and W48 (OFF). A total of 866 samples was analysed. Plasma concentrations were not statistically lower after 4 days (ON) vs 7/7 days of treatment except for RPV (-30 ng/mL at 4/7, P = 0.003). Significant lower plasma concentrations were observed for OFF vs ON except for ETR (n = 5, P = 0.062). Overall, 87.1% of ON concentrations (ATV 92.1%, DRV 51.1%, LPV 62.5%, EFV 94.4%, ETR 100% and RPV 94.9%) and 21.8% of OFF concentrations (ATV 1.4%, DRV 0.0%, LPV 0.0%, EFV 16.0%, ETR 92.6% and RPV 39.0%) were above the theoretical limit of efficacy of the molecule. In the OFF period, 85.8% of PI concentrations were under the limit of quantification, while 98.0% of NNRTI concentrations were quantifiable. Despite low/undetectable PI/NNRTI plasma concentrations in the OFF period, patients maintained an undetectable viral load. The mechanistic explanation should be investigated.

Willingness to pay for community delivery of antiretroviral treatment in urban Tanzania: a cross-sectional survey.

Community health worker (CHW)-led community delivery of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) could increase ART coverage and decongest healthcare facilities. It is unknown how much patients would be willing to pay to receive ART at home and, thus, whether ART community delivery could be self-financing. Set in Dar es Salaam, this study aimed to determine patients’ willingness to pay (WTP) for CHW-led ART community delivery. We sampled ART patients living in the neighbourhoods surrounding each of 48 public-sector healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam. We asked participants (N = 1799) whether they (1) preferred ART community delivery over standard facility-based care, (2) would be willing to pay for ART community delivery and (3) would be willing to pay each of an incrementally increasing range of prices for the service. 45.0% (810/1799; 95% CI: 42.7—47.3) of participants preferred ART community delivery over standard facility-based care and 51.5% (417/810; 95% CI: 48.1—55.0) of these respondents were willing to pay for ART community delivery. Among those willing to pay, the mean and median amount that participants were willing to pay for one ART community delivery that provides a 2-months’ supply of antiretroviral drugs was 3.61 purchasing-power-parity-adjusted dollars (PPP$) (95% CI: 2.96–4.26) and 1.27 PPP$ (IQR: 1.27–2.12), respectively. An important limitation of this study is that participants all resided in neighbourhoods within the catchment area of the healthcare facility at which they were interviewed and, thus, may incur less costs to attend standard facility-based ART care than other ART patients in Dar es Salaam. While there appears to be a substantial WTP, patient payments would only constitute a minority of the costs of implementing ART community delivery. Thus, major co-financing from governments or donors would likely be required.

Healthcare providers’ perspective on barriers to optimal HIV index testing: an interview-based study

Background: HIV testing services (HTS) and antiretroviral therapy have seen a substantial scale-up. Poorly targeted HTS have continued to miss people living with HIV who do not know their HIV status. This requires new and targeted approaches to reach undiagnosed people with HIV, such as HIV partner services. The aim of this study was to assess the barriers to optimal index testing for improved HIV testing yield in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: One-to-one interviews were conducted with index testing providers to explore provider-related and client-related barriers to testing, and document other experiences arising during the process of HIV index testing. An interview guide was utilized for consistency of information collected. Results: Provider related challenges included inadequate elicitation skills among healthcare workers; low number of volunteers trained in index testing; inadequate index testing knowledge among staff; limited elicitation of index partners to only wife and husband (not eliciting all sexual partners); and limited transport for contact tracing. On the other hand, client-related challenges were mobile communities due to seasonal activities such as cross boarder trades, sex work and farming; some key populations and adolescent index clients do not have contact details for their casual relationships; provider’s age or gender difference for some clients; missing details on client locator forms or wrong details provided; and limited space dedicated to conduct elicitation of index clients. Discussion: The challenges identified have future implications for index partner testing. These barriers were also gender and age specific. HIV testing services need to adapt to the social context of Zambia where HIV-related stigma and discrimination is still persistent and overwhelming. As Zambia makes significant progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control, more effort is needed to reach specific high risk but hard to reach populations in HIV programs, such as men and adolescent girls and young women.

High Prevalence of AH in HIV Patients on ART, in Bahia, Brazil.

The prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in HIV-patients is highly variable and its association with antiretroviral therapy (ART) is controversial. To estimate the prevalence of AH and associated factors in HIV-patients on ART. This cross-sectional study was conducted in HIV-patients attended in a referral center in Salvador, Brazil. We evaluated clinical, socio-demographic and anthropometric data. Student's ttests or Mann-Whitney's and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare the groups. Values of p <0.05 were considered significant. The variables that presented a value of p <0.20 were included in a logistic regression model. We evaluated 196 patients (60.7% male) with a mean age of 46.8 ± 11.7 years and a mean body mass index of 24.9 ± 5.3 kg / m2. The median elapsed time since HIV diagnosis and ART use was 11.8 (4.4 - 18.1) and 7.2 (2.7 - 15.3) years, respectively. The prevalence of AH was 41.8%. For individuals > 50 years old, there was a significant association between the increased abdominal circumference and AH and patients ≤ 50 years old presented significant association between AH and overweight, increased abdominal circumference and number of previous ART regimens. After multivariate analysis, age [OR:1.085; 95% CI 1,039 - 1,133], overweight [OR: 4.205; 95% CI 1,841 - 9,606], family history of AH [OR: 2.938; 95% CI 1,253 - 6.885], increased abdominal circumference [OR: 2.774; 95% CI 1.116 - 6.897] and life-time number of ART regimens used [OR: 3.842; 95% CI 1.307 - 11.299] remained associated with AH. AH was highly prevalent and was associated not only with classical risk factors for arterial hypertension, but also with specific ART regimens.

Viremia copy-years and risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction in adults living with perinatal HIV infection.

Among people with perinatal HIV infection (PHIV), non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, are increasing. Both HIV replication and antiretroviral therapy are recognised causes of renal impairment. Objective of the study is to describe the impact of viremia copy-years (VCY) and antiretroviral therapy on trend of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a cohort of adults with perinatal HIV infection. We conducted a multicentre observational study in sixty adults living with PHIV across a 9-year period, from January 2010 to December 2018. The mean values of eGFR were analysed at the first (T0) and last year of observation (T1). VCY was defined as the area under HIV-RNA curve during the study period. We analysed data according to antiretroviral therapy: tenofovir disoproxil (TDF), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI), boosted protease inhibitors (PI/b), integrase inhibitors (INI). We observed a mean overall eGFR reduction from 126.6 mL/min (95%CI: 119.6–133.5) to 105.0 mL/min (95%CI: 99.55–110.6) (p<0.001). Older age, higher baseline eGFR, higher VCY and longer exposure to INI treatment were associated with eGFR reduction at univariate analysis. In the multivariate model, older age (p = 0.039), baseline eGFR (p<0.001) and VCY (p = 0.069), were retained. We also observed a longer exposure to PI/b and INI in patients with lower control on HIV-RNA, expressed as VCY>2 log10. Our study outlines a progressive eGFR reduction in young adults with PHIV, related to the lower control on HIV-RNA VCY and related to aging.

Cognitive differences associated with HIV serostatus and antiretroviral therapy use in a population-based sample of older adults in South Africa

Previous clinical studies have reported adverse cognitive outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), but there are no population-based studies comparing cognitive function between older PLWH and comparators without HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed baseline data of 40 + years-old participants in “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” (HAALSI) cohort. We measured cognition using a battery of conventional instruments assessing orientation, immediate- and delayed-recall, and numeracy (N = 4560), and the Oxford Cognitive Screen [OCS]-Plus, a novel instrument for low-literacy populations, assessing memory, language, visual-spatial ability, and executive functioning (N = 1997). Linear regression models comparing cognitive scores between participants with and without HIV were adjusted for sex, education, age, country of birth, father’s occupation, ever-consumed alcohol, and asset index. PLWH scored on average 0.06 (95% CI 0.01–0.12) standard deviation (SD) units higher on the conventional cognitive function measure and 0.02 (95% CI − 0.07 to 0.04) SD units lower on the OCS-Plus measure than HIV-negative participants. We found higher cognitive function scores for PLWH compared to people without HIV when using a conventional measure of cognitive function but not when using a novel instrument for low-literacy settings.

Increased Monocyte Inflammatory Responses to Oxidized LDL Are Associated with Insulin Resistance in HIV-Infected Individuals on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Despite long term antiretroviral therapy (ART), insulin resistance (IR) is common among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) exposing this population to a greater risk of cardiometabolic complications when compared to their uninfected counterparts. We previously identified an expansion in monocyte subpopulations in blood that were linked to the degree of IR in persons with HIV on stable ART. In this study, we directly assessed monocyte inflammatory functional properties from PLWHA on ART (n = 33) and HIV-uninfected controls (n = 14) of similar age, gender, and cardiovascular disease risk and determined the relationship with IR (homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)), calculated from fasting blood glucose and insulin measurements. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) and polyfunctional monocyte cytokine responses (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, or TNF-α) were determined by flow cytometry. Higher monocyte IL-1β and IL-8 responses to oxLDL were associated with higher IR in PLWHA but not in the control group. We observed that higher basal monocyte cytokine responses were associated with both duration since HIV diagnosis and ART initiation. In the management of IR in chronic HIV, strategies lowering monocyte IL-1β and IL-8 responses should be considered in addition to ART in order to limit adverse cardio-metabolic outcomes.

The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS) BIRTH COHORT study: rationale, design and methods

BackgroundCommencing lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately following HIV diagnosis (Option B+), has greatly improved maternal-infant health. Thus, large and increasing numbers of HIV-infected women are on ART during pregnancy, a situation concurrently increasing numbers of HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) infants. Compared to their HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) counterparts, HEU infants show higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, mortality, infectious/non-communicable diseases including impaired growth and neurocognitive development. There is an urgent need to understand the impact of HIV and early life ART exposures, immune-metabolic dysregulation, comorbidities and environmental confounders on adverse paediatric outcomes.MethodsSix hundred (600) HIV-infected and 600 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥20 weeks of gestation will be enrolled from four primary health centres in high density residential areas of Harare. Participants will be followed up as mother-infant-pairs at delivery, week(s) 1, 6, 10, 14, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 after birth. Clinical, socio-economic, nutritional and environmental data will be assessed for adverse birth outcomes, impaired growth, immune/neurodevelopment, vertical transmission of HIV, hepatitis-B/C viruses, cytomegalovirus and syphilis. Maternal urine, stool, plasma, cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta and milk including infant plasma, dried blood spot and stool will be collected at enrolment and follow-up visits. The composite primary endpoint is stillbirth and infant mortality within the first two years of life in HEU versus HUU infants. Maternal mortality in HIV-infected versus -uninfected women is another primary outcome. Secondary endpoints include a range of maternal and infant outcomes. Sub-studies will address maternal stress and malnutrition, maternal-infant latent tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori infections, immune-metabolomic dysregulation including gut, breast milk and amniotic fluid dysbiosis.DiscussionThe University of Zimbabwe-College of Health-Sciences-Birth-Cohort study will provide a comprehensive assessment of risk factors and biomarkers for HEU infants’ adverse outcomes. This will ultimately help developing strategies to mitigate effects of maternal HIV, early-life ART exposures and comorbidities on infants’ mortality and morbidity.Trial registrationClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT04087239. Registered 12 September 2019.

High HIV Prevalence and Low HIV-Service Engagement Among Young Women Who Sell Sex: A Pooled Analysis Across 9 Sub-Saharan African Countries.

Epidemiological data are needed to characterize the age-specific HIV burden and engagement in HIV services among young, marginalized women in sub-Saharan Africa. Women aged ≥18 years who reported selling sex were recruited across 9 countries in Southern, Central, and West Africa through respondent driven sampling (N = 6592). Individual-level data were pooled and age-specific HIV prevalence and antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage were estimated for each region using generalized linear mixed models. HIV-service engagement outcomes (prior HIV testing, HIV status awareness, and ART use) were compared among women living with HIV across age strata (18-19, 20-24, and ≥25 years) using generalized estimating equations. By age 18%-19%, 45.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 37.9 to 53.0], 5.8% (95% CI: 4.3 to 7.8), and 4.0% (95% CI: 2.9 to 5.4) of young women who sell sex were living with HIV in Southern, Central, and West Africa respectively. Prevalence sharply increased during early adulthood in all regions, but ART coverage was suboptimal across age groups. Compared with adult women ≥25, young women aged 18-19 were less likely to have previously tested for HIV [prevalence ratio (PR) 0.76; 95% CI: 0.72 to 0.80], less likely to already be aware of their HIV status (PR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.64), and less likely to be taking ART (PR 0.67; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.75). HIV prevalence was already high by age 18-19 in this pooled analysis, demonstrating the need for prevention efforts that reach women who sell sex early in their adolescence. ART coverage remained low, with women in the youngest age group the least engaged in HIV-related services. Addressing barriers to HIV service delivery among young women who sell sex is central to a comprehensive HIV response.

Association Between CD4 Count and Chemoradiation Therapy Outcomes Among Cervical Cancer Patients With HIV.

In Botswana, nearly two-thirds of cervical cancer patients are HIV-positive. This study examined the relationship between CD4 count and chemoradiation therapy outcomes among cervical cancer patients with HIV. A prospective cohort study of 231 HIV-positive women with locally invasive cervical cancer was conducted in Gaborone, Botswana from January 2015 to February 2018. Primary outcome was survival, defined as time from scheduled end of chemoradiation therapy to death or last contact with patient. Nadir CD4 count was defined as lowest CD4 available before cancer diagnosis. Delta CD4 count was defined as improvement from nadir CD4 to CD4 at cancer diagnosis. Hazard ratio (HR) analyses were adjusted for presenting variables (age, baseline hemoglobin, cancer stage, and performance status) and treatment variables (chemotherapy cycles and radiation dose). Two hundred thirty-one patients were included in nadir CD4 analysis; 139 were included in delta CD4 analysis. Higher delta CD4 was significantly associated with reduced mortality after adjusting for presenting and treatment variables (CD4 100-249: HR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.95; CD4 ≥250: HR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20 to 1.02). Higher nadir CD4 showed a trend toward reduced mortality after adjusting for presenting and treatment variables (HR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.06). Higher delta CD4 (greater improvement from nadir CD4 to CD4 at cervical cancer diagnosis) is significantly associated with lower mortality. Although not statistically significant, data suggest that higher nadir CD4 may reduce mortality. These results reinforce the importance of early HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy initiation, as their effects influence cervical cancer outcomes years later.

TB outcomes and mortality risk factors in adult migrants at the Thailand-Myanmar border.

BACKGROUND: Cross-border migrants at the Thailand-Myanmar border are an underserved and vulnerable population. We aimed to identify the causes and risk factors for TB mortality at a migrant-friendly TB programme.METHODS: Routinely collected data on TB cases, treatment outcomes and causes of death were analysed for adult TB cases diagnosed between January 2013 and April 2017. Mortality in the 6 months post-diagnosis was calculated and risk factors were identified using multivariable Poisson regression.RESULTS: Of the 1344 TB cases diagnosed, 1005 started treatment and 128 died. Case fatality rate was 9.5% and the TB mortality rate was 2.4/100 person-months. The number of pre-treatment deaths (33/128) and losses to follow-up (9.0%) were high. Among cases enrolled in treatment, the treatment success rate was 79.8%. When stratified by HIV status, case fatality was higher in HIV-positive cases not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (90.3%) or with unknown HIV status (31.8%) than those on ART (14.3%) or HIV-negative (8.6%).CONCLUSION: This TB programme achieved high treatment success rates in a population with a substantial burden of TB-HIV coinfection. Expanding access to HIV testing and ART is crucial to reduce mortality. Striving towards same-day TB diagnosis and treatment could reduce death and loss to follow-up.

Drug Resistance Mutation Frequency of Single-Genome Amplification-Derived HIV-1 Polymerase Genomes in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of HIV-1-Infected Individuals under Nonsuppressive Therapy.

HIV-1 evolution in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma may result in discordant drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in the compartments. Single-genome amplification (SGA) was used to generate partial HIV-1 polymerase genomes in paired CSF and plasma samples from 12 HIV-1-positive participants in the CNS HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Effects Research (CHARTER) study who were classified as neurocognitively unimpaired or with various degrees of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Subjects were viremic on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). HIV-1 DRMs and phylogenetic characteristics were determined using the Stanford HIVdb program and phylogenetic analyses. Individual DRMs were identified more frequently in plasma than in paired CSF (P = 0.0078). Significant differences in the ratios of DRMs in CSF and plasma were found in 3 individuals with HAND (3/7 = 43%). Two HAND subjects (2/7 = 29%) demonstrated one DRM in CSF not identified in paired plasma. Longitudinal analyses (n = 4) revealed significant temporal differences in the ratios of DRMs in the compartments. Statistically significant differences in the frequency of DRMs in the CSF and plasma are readily found in those on nonsuppressive cART. While compartment-based DRM discordance was largely consistent with increased drug-selective pressures in the plasma, overrepresentation of DRMs in the central nervous system (CNS) can occur. Underlying mechanisms of HAND are complex and multifactorial. The clinical impact of DRM discordance on viral persistence and HAND pathogenesis remains unclear and warrants further investigation in larger, longitudinal cohorts.IMPORTANCE Several antiretroviral agents do not efficiently enter the CNS, and independent evolution of HIV-1 viral variants in the CNS and plasma can occur. We used single-genome amplification (SGA) in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to uniquely define both the identity and relative proportions of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) on individual HIV-1 polymerase genomes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma in individuals with incomplete viral suppression and known neurocognitive status. Statistically significant differences in the ratio of DRMs in the CSF and plasma were readily found in those on nonsuppressive cART, and overrepresentation of DRMs in the CNS can occur. Although questions about the clinical significance of DRM discordance remain, in the quest for viral eradication, it is important to recognize that a significant, dynamic, compartment-based DRM ratio imbalance can exist, as it has the potential to go unnoticed in the setting of standard clinical drug resistance testing.

Effectiveness of Financial Incentives in Achieving UNAID Fast-Track 90-90-90 and 95-95-95 Target of HIV Care Continuum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Financial incentives influence behavioural changes and the current review was done to assess the effectiveness of this intervention in improving HIV care continuum. We conducted systematic searches in MEDLINE, Cochrane library, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar from inception until July 2019. We carried out a meta-analysis with random-effects model quantifying inconsistency (I2) for heterogeneity and reported pooled Risk Ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 22 studies with 38,119 participants were included. All the six outcomes showed better results in financial incentive arm compared to standard care with statistical significance in three outcomes-HIV testing uptake (pooled RR: 2.42; 95%CI 1.06-5.54; I2 = 100%), antiretroviral therapy (ART)adherence (pooled RR: 1.30; 95%CI 1.13-1.50; I2 = 44%), and continuity in care (pooled RR: 1.24; 95%CI 1.09-1.41; I2 = 86%). To summarize, financial incentives can be helpful in improving the uptake of HIV testing, ART adherence and continuity of care while it was better for achieving viral load suppression among studies conducted in high-income countries.

How to build an HIV out of care watch list: Remaking HIV surveillance in the era of treatment as prevention

This paper describes how state and local departments of public health (DPHs) in the United States build HIV “out of care” lists using “Data to Care” guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPHs use these lists in prevention outreach and contact tracing. DPHs build out of care lists using data sent to them by laboratories every time a clinician orders routine HIV-related bloodwork for a patient. If a person does not report bloodwork, or shows poor results, they can be placed on an out of care list. The processes DPHs use to construct and refine lists show how HIV care data changed during the 2010s, transforming from a class of sensitive information with many restrictions governing its exchange into a class of data that is accompanied by a mandate for public health actors to exchange and utilize it in a variety of programs. Re-uses of HIV care data for prevention follow confirmation that antiretroviral therapy for HIV is an effective way to prevent transmission, a paradigm called “treatment as prevention.” DPH personnel enhance lists by conducting investigations, matching lists against medical records, utilizing people search tools such as LexisNexis, searching social media platforms, and other methods. This can include collaboration with correctional and law enforcement agencies — a concern in jurisdictions where HIV nondisclosure is criminalized. Public health re-uses of HIV data are done without consent. This paper focuses on the labor and ethics of building HIV out of care lists, drawing on archival health policy data, fieldwork with the HIV/AIDS workforce in metropolitan Atlanta, and a literature review.