INSTI-Based Initial Antiretroviral Therapy in Adults with HIV, the HIV Outpatient Study, 2007-2018.

We evaluated treatment duration and viral suppression (VS) outcomes with integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens versus other contemporary regimens among adults in routine HIV care. Eligible participants were seen during January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2018 at nine U.S. HIV clinics, initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) (baseline date), and had ≥2 clinic visits thereafter. We assessed the probability of remaining on a regimen and achieving HIV RNA <200 copies/mL on initial INSTI versus non-INSTI ART by Kaplan-Meier analyses and their correlates by Cox regression. Among 1,005 patients, 335 (33.3%) were prescribed an INSTI-containing regimen and 670 (66.7%) a non-INSTI regimen, which may have included non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and other agents. In both groups, most patients were male, nonwhite, and aged <50 years. Comparing the INSTI with non-INSTI group, the median baseline log10 HIV viral load (VL; copies/mL) was 4.6 versus 4.5, and the median CD4+ cell count (cells/mm3) was 352 versus 314. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated probabilities of remaining on initial regimens at 2 and 4 years were 58% and 40% for INSTI and 51% and 33% for non-INSTI group, respectively (log-rank test p = .003). In multivariable models, treatment with an INSTI (vs. non-INSTI) ART was negatively associated with a regimen switch [hazard ratio (HR) 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.81, p < .001] and was positively associated with achieving VS (HR 1.52; CI 1.29-1.79, p < .001), both irrespective of baseline VL levels. Initial INSTI-based regimens were associated with longer treatment durations and better VS than non-INSTI regimens. Results support INSTI regimens as the initial therapy in U.S. treatment guidelines.

Clinic-Level Factors Associated With Time to Antiretroviral Initiation and Viral Suppression in a Large, Urban Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Using the results of a site assessment survey performed at clinics throughout Washington, DC, we studied the impact of clinic-level factors on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and viral suppression (VS) among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis from the District of Columbia (DC) Cohort, an observational, clinical cohort of PLWH from 2011-2018. We included data from PLWH not on ART and not virally suppressed at enrollment. Outcomes were ART initiation and VS (HIV RNA < 200 copies/mL). A clinic survey captured information on care delivery (eg, clinical services, adherence services, patient monitoring services) and clinic characteristics (eg, types of providers, availability of evenings/weekends sessions). Multivariate marginal Cox regression models were generated to identify those factors associated with the time to ART initiation and VS. RESULTS: Multiple clinic-level factors were associated with ART initiation, including retention in care monitoring and medication dispensing reviews (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs], 1.34 to 1.40; P values < .05 for both). Furthermore, multiple factors were associated with VS, including retention in HIV care monitoring, medication dispensing reviews, and the presence of a peer interventionist (aHRs, 1.35 to 1.72; P values < .05 for all). In multivariable models evaluating different combinations of clinic-level factors, enhanced adherence services (aHR, 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.58), medication dispensing reviews (aHR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10-1.36), and the availability of opioid treatment (aHR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.57) were all associated with the time to VS. CONCLUSIONS: The observed association between clinic-level factors and ART initiation/VS suggests that the presence of specific clinic services may facilitate the achievement of HIV treatment goals.

Excess heart age in adult outpatients in routine HIV care.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among persons living with HIV (PLWH). We used individual cardiovascular risk factor profiles to estimate heart age for PLWH in medical care in the United States. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analyses of HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) data METHODS:: Included in this analysis were participants aged 30-74 years, without prior CVD, with at least two HOPS clinic visits during 2010-2017, at least 1-year of follow-up, and available covariate data. We calculated age and race/ethnicity-adjusted heart age and excess heart age (chronological age - heart age), using a Framingham risk score-based model. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 2467 men and 619 women (mean chronologic age 49.3 and 49.1 years, and 23.6% and 54.6% Non-Hispanic/Latino black, respectively). Adjusted excess heart age was 11.5 years (95% confidence interval, 11.1-12.0) among men and 13.1 years (12.0-14.1) among women. Excess heart age was seen among all age groups beginning with persons aged 30-39 years [men, 7.8 (6.9-8.8); women, 7.7 (4.9-10.4)], with the highest excess heart age among participants aged 50-59 years [men, 13.7 years (13.0-14.4); women, 16.4 years (14.8-18.0)]. More than 50% of participants had an excess heart age of at least 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Excess heart age is common among PLWH, begins in early adulthood, and impacts both women and men. Among PLWH, CVD risk factors should be addressed early and proactively. Routine use of the heart age calculator may help optimize CVD risk stratification and facilitate interventions for aging PLWH.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Among HIV-Infected Individuals in the District of Columbia and Estimated HIV Transmission Risk: Data From the DC Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Washington, DC, has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the United States. Sexual intercourse is the leading mode of HIV transmission, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a risk factor for HIV acquisition and transmission. METHODS: We evaluated the incidence and demographic factors associated with chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among HIV-infected persons enrolled at 13 DC Cohort sites from 2011 to 2015. Using Poisson regression, we assessed covariates of risk for incident STIs. We also examined HIV viral loads (VLs) at the time of STI diagnosis as a proxy for HIV transmission risk. RESULTS: Six point seven percent (451/6672) developed an incident STI during a median follow-up of 32.5 months (4% chlamydia, 3% gonorrhea, 2% syphilis); 30% of participants had 2 or more STI episodes. The incidence rate of any STIs was 3.8 cases per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5-4.1); age 18-34 years, 10.8 (95% CI, 9.7-12.0); transgender women, 9.9 (95% CI, 6.9-14.0); Hispanics, 9.2 (95% CI, 7.2-11.8); and men who have sex with men (MSM), 7.7 (95% CI, 7.1-8.4). Multivariate Poisson regression showed younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, MSM risk, and higher nadir CD4 counts to be strongly associated with STIs. Among those with an STI, 41.8% had a detectable VL within 1 month of STI diagnosis, and 14.6% had a VL ≥1500 copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: STIs are highly prevalent among HIV-infected persons receiving care in DC. HIV transmission risk is considerable at the time of STI diagnosis. Interventions toward risk reduction, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and HIV virologic suppression are critical at the time of STI evaluation.

Use of national standards to monitor HIV care and treatment in a high prevalence city-Washington, DC.

We sought to benchmark the quality of HIV care being received by persons living with HIV in care in Washington, DC and identify individual-level and structural-level differences. Data from the DC Cohort, an observational HIV cohort of persons receiving outpatient care in DC, were used to estimate the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) quality of care measures. Differences in care by demographics and clinic type were assessed using χ2 tests and multivariable regression models. Among 8,047 participants, by HHS standards, 69% of participants were retained in care (RIC), 95% were prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 84% were virally suppressed (VS). By IOM standards, 84% were in continuous care; and 78% and 80% underwent regular CD4 and VL monitoring, respectively. Screening for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea was 51%, 31%, and 26%, respectively. Older participants were 1.5 times more likely to be RIC compared to younger participants (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 1.8). Participants enrolled in community-based clinics were more likely to be RIC (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.0) versus those enrolled at hospital-based clinics. Older participants were more likely to achieve VS than younger participants (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 2.2) while Black participants were less likely compared to white participants (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.5). Despite high measures of quality of care, disparities remain. Continued monitoring of the quality of HIV care and treatment can inform the development of public health programs and interventions to optimize care delivery.