Clinical profile and viral load suppression among HIV positive adolescents attending a tertiary hospital in North Central Nigeria

ObjectivesHIV point-of-care testing (POCT) has been available in Manitoba since 2008. This study evaluated the effectiveness of POCT at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV status, its effects on clinical outcomes and the characteristics of the populations reached.MethodsA retrospective database review was conducted for individuals who received HIV POCT from 2011 to 2014. Time to linkage to care and viral load suppression were compared between individuals who tested positive for HIV using POCT and controls identified as positive through standard screening. Testing outcomes for labouring women with undocumented HIV status accessing POCT during labour were also assessed.Results3204 individuals received POCT (1055 females (32.9%) and 2149 males (67.1%)), being the first recorded HIV test for 2205 (68.8%). Males were more likely to be targeted with POCT as their first recorded HIV test (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.40). Between the two main test sites (Main Street Project (MSP) and Nine Circles Community Health Centre), MSP tested relatively fewer males (AOR 0.79) but a higher proportion of members of all age groups over 30 years old (AOR 1.83, 2.51 and 3.64 for age groups 30–39, 40–49 and >50, respectively). There was no difference in time to linkage to care (p=0.345) or viral load suppression (p=0.405) between the POCT and standard screening cohorts. Of 215 women presenting in labour with unknown HIV status, one was identified as HIV positive.ConclusionsPOCT in Manitoba has been successful at identifying individuals with previously unknown HIV-positive status. Demographic differences between the two main testing sites support that this intervention is reaching unique populations. Given that we observed no significant difference in time to clinical outcomes, it is reasonable to continue using POCT as a targeted intervention.MeSH termsHIV infection; rapid HIV testing; vertical infectious disease transmission; community outreach; service delivery; marginalised populations.

Download Full-text

Associations between drug use patterns and viral load suppression among HIV-positive individuals who use support services in New York City

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.12.015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 197 ◽

pp. 15-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Matthew B. Feldman ◽

Kelsey L. Kepler ◽

Mary K. Irvine ◽

Jacinthe A. Thomas

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Viral Load ◽

Drug Use ◽

Support Services ◽

York City ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Drug Use Patterns

Download Full-text

What gaps remain in the HIV cascade of care? Results of a population-based survey in Nsanje District, Malawi

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248410 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0248410

Author(s):

Nolwenn Conan ◽

Cyrus P. Paye ◽

Reinaldo Ortuno ◽

Alexander Chijuwa ◽

Brown Chiwandira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Viral Load ◽

Health Facility ◽

Population Based ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Hiv Rna ◽

Hiv Test ◽

Cascade Of Care

Introduction The Malawi Ministry of Health (MoH) has been in collaboration with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) to increase access to quality HIV care through decentralization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) diagnosis and treatment from hospital to clinics in Nsanje District since 2011. A population-based household survey was implemented to provide information on HIV prevalence and cascade of care to inform and prioritize community-based HIV interventions in the district. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between September 2016 and January 2017. Using two-stage cluster sampling, eligible adult individuals aged ≥15 years living in the selected households were asked to participate. Participants were interviewed and tested for HIV at home. Those tested HIV-positive had their HIV-RNA viral load (VL) measured, regardless of their ART status. All participants tested HIV-positive at the time of the survey were advised to report their HIV test result to the health facility of their choice that MSF was supported in the district. HIV-RNA VL results were made available in this health facility. Results Among 5,315 eligible individuals, 91.1% were included in the survey and accepted an HIV test. The overall prevalence was 12.1% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 11.2–13.0) and was higher in women than in men: 14.0% versus 9.5%, P<0.001. Overall HIV-positive status awareness was 80.0% (95%CI: 76.4–83.1) and was associated with sex (P<0.05). Linkage to care was 78.0% (95%CI: 74.3–81.2) and participants in care 76.2% (95%CI: 72.4–79.5). ART coverage among participants aware of their HIV-positive status was 95.3% (95%CI: 92.9–96.9) and was not associated with sex (P = 0.55). Viral load suppression among participants on ART was 89.9% (95%CI: 86.6–92.4) and was not statistically different by sex (p = 0.40). Conclusions Despite encouraging results in HIV testing coverage, cascade of care, and UNAIDS targets in Nsanje District, some gap remains in the first 90, specifically among men and young adults. Enhanced community engagement and new strategies of testing, such as index testing, could be implemented to identify those who are still undiagnosed, particularly men and young adults.

Download Full-text

Baseline Clinical Characteristics, Antiretroviral Therapy Use, and Viral Load Suppression Among HIV-Positive Young Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men

AIDS Patient Care and STDs ◽

10.1089/apc.2011.9881 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (S1) ◽

pp. S9-S14 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Lisa B. Hightow-Weidman ◽

Karen Jones ◽

Gregory Phillips ◽

Amy Wohl ◽

Thomas P. Giordano, for The YMSM of Color SPN

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Young Men ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Men Of Color ◽

Sex With Men

Download Full-text

Violence Screening and Viral Load Suppression Among HIV-Positive Women of Color

AIDS Patient Care and STDs ◽

10.1089/apc.2014.0275 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (S1) ◽

pp. S36-S41 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Susan Ryerson Espino ◽

Jason Fletcher ◽

Marisol Gonzalez ◽

Allison Precht ◽

Jessica Xavier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Women Of Color ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Download Full-text

Adherence Measurements among HIV-positive Adolescents on ARVs in Cameroon: Comparison between Self-report and the Medication Possession Ratio

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59422/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mbuwir Charlotte Bongfen ◽

Kwasi Torpey ◽

Ganle John ◽

Ankomah Augustine

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Medication Possession Ratio ◽

The Self ◽

Self Report ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Kappa Statistics ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Measurement Scales ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

The Difference

Abstract Objective Adherence to ARV medications has been shown to improve treatment outcomes in HIV positive patients. Given that treatment to ARV is lifelong, adherence has become a critical issue as it may reduce over time. Measuring adherence is therefore imperative in programming. There are different methods of measuring adherence with advantages and disadvantages depending on the context and the time. This study therefore compares two adherence measurement scales; Medication Possession Ration (MPR) and self-report adherence in Cameroon.Results The self-report adherence was 82.9% while adherence from the MPR was 73.4%. The two measures were compared using kappa statistics. There was substantial agreement between the two scales of 66% (p=0.54). The results of both self-report adherence and MPR were also compared with viral load suppression and the difference between viral load suppression and MPR was significant (p<0.01). The difference in adherence between viral load suppression and the self-report measure was also shown to be significant (p<0.01).

Download Full-text

Factors Associated With Virological Suppression of HIV Viral Load in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Conakry, Guinea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-885619/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alimou camara ◽

Penda Maladho Diallo ◽

Mamadou Bobo Diallo ◽

Talla Nioké ◽

Adama Cissé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

Virological Suppression ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Viral Load Data ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Abstract BackgroundThe viral load has become an indispensable tool in evaluating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV / AIDS. This study aimed to assess virological suppression among in people living with HIV / AIDS on antiretroviral therapy in Guinea.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study of more than three years that involved adult HIV-positive patients treated in different sites in Conakry. A total of 9815 viral load data were collected. The viral load was quantified by the Generic Biocentric technique and the detection threshold set at 350 copies/ml. Statistical analyses were performed by R software version R4.0.3..ResultsA total of 9815 viral load data collected at the national public health laboratory were analysed. The sample was dominated by women (72%), with an average age of 29 [29, 39]. Of these, 6,706 (68%) of HIV-positive people on ART had viral load suppression. The univaried analysis showed that women were 22% more likely to have VL suppression (p-value <0.001) moreover, the chance for all HIV-positive people on treatment to achieve viral load suppression was related to the length of treatment.Conclusionthe results of this study show viral load suppression greater than 68%. The length of antiretroviral therapy, female gender, and advancing age of PLHIV were all favourable to VL suppression.

Download Full-text

HIV Care and Viral Load Suppression After Sexual Health Clinic Visits by Out-of-Care HIV-Positive Persons

AIDS Patient Care and STDs ◽

10.1089/apc.2018.0097 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 390-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olga Tymejczyk ◽

Kelly Jamison ◽

Preeti Pathela ◽

Sarah Braunstein ◽

Julia A. Schillinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Clinic Visits

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Prognostic response in HIV positive patients after Antiretroviral Therapy

Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College ◽

10.37939/jrmc.v24i3.1483 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 283-287

Author(s):

Nadya Usman ◽

Muhammad Abdul Rehman ◽

Muhammad Bilal Ghafoor ◽

Muhammad Ali Malik ◽

Muhammad Shoaib Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Hiv Treatment ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cd4 Cells ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

First Line ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

One Year

Objective: The present study was aimed to monitor the prognostic response of antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive patients. Methodology: The study was conducted on confirmed HIV positive patients registered at HIV treatment and care centre, PIMS. Islamabad from January 2013 to December 2015.. Among all HIV positive patients,276 adult cases were selected. There were 263 patients on first-line antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and 13 patients were shifted to 2nd line ARV therapy.CD4 cell counts and viral load (Polymerase chain reaction) monitoring was done after one year of starting ARV therapy. Results: Out of 276 adult patients, 75%(n=207) were male and 25%(n=69) were females. Among 276 adult cases, 95.3% (n=263) patients were on first line ARV therapy. Patients on first line ARV therapy showed good prognostic response. There were 15.5%(n=40) patients having CD4+cells less than 350cells/µL. There were 84.5%(n=223) patients having CD4 +cells count greater than 350cells/µL There were 69%(n=182) patients having viral load <50copies/ml and 31%(n=81) patients who had viral load >50copies/ml. Conclusion: First line ARV therapy given to HIV positive patients proved itself best both in respect of increasing the immunity of HIV positive patients by increasing the number of CD4 cells and also results in effective viral load suppression.

Download Full-text

Low Case Finding Among Men and Poor Viral Load Suppression Among Adolescents Are Impeding Namibia’s Ability to Achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofy200 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Simon Agolory ◽

Michael de Klerk ◽

Andrew L Baughman ◽

Souleymane Sawadogo ◽

Nicholus Mutenda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Incidence ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Percent Reduction ◽

Viral Load Suppression ◽

Innovative Strategies ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Abstract Background In 2015, Namibia implemented an Acceleration Plan to address the high burden of HIV (13.0% adult prevalence and 216 311 people living with HIV [PLHIV]) and achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020. We provide an update on Namibia’s overall progress toward achieving these targets and estimate the percent reduction in HIV incidence since 2010. Methods Data sources include the 2013 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (2013 NDHS), the national electronic patient monitoring system, and laboratory data from the Namibian Institute of Pathology. These sources were used to estimate (1) the percentage of PLHIV who know their HIV status, (2) the percentage of PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART), (3) the percentage of patients on ART with suppressed viral loads, and (4) the percent reduction in HIV incidence. Results In the 2013 NDHS, knowledge of HIV status was higher among HIV-positive women 91.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.4%–93.7%) than HIV-positive men 82.5% (95% CI, 78.1%–86.1%). At the end of 2016, an estimated 88.3% (95% CI, 86.3%–90.1%) of PLHIV knew their status, and 165 939 (76.7%) PLHIV were active on ART. The viral load suppression rate among those on ART was 87%, and it was highest among ≥20-year-olds (90%) and lowest among 15–19-year-olds (68%). HIV incidence has declined by 21% since 2010. Conclusions With 76.7% of PLHIV on ART and 87% of those on ART virally suppressed, Namibia is on track to achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020. Innovative strategies are needed to improve HIV case identification among men and adherence to ART among youth.

Download Full-text