TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV infection and linkage to HIV-related medical care in large Urban Areas in the United States, 2009
AU - Laffoon, Benjamin T.
AU - Irene Hall, H.
AU - Babu, Aruna Surendera
AU - Benbow, Nanette
AU - Hsu, Ling C.
AU - Hu, Yunyin W.
AU - Urban Areas HIV Surveillance Workgroup
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Background: Residents of urban areas have accounted for the majority of persons diagnosed with HIV disease in the United States. Linking persons recently diagnosed with HIV to primary medical care is an important indicator in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Methods: We analyzed data reported to the HIV Surveillance System in 18 urban areas in the United States. Standardized executable SAS programs were distributed to determine the number of HIV cases living through 2008, number of HIV cases diagnosed in 2009, and the percentage of those diagnosed in 2009 who had reported CD4 lymphocyte or HIV viral load test results within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. Data were presented by jurisdiction, age group at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex at birth, birth country, disease stage, and transmission category. Results: By jurisdiction, the percentage of persons diagnosed in 2009 with at least 1 CD4 or HIV viral load test within 3 months of diagnosis ranged from 48.5% to 92.5% (median: 70.9). The percentage of persons linked to care varied by age group and by racial/ethnic groups. Fourteen of the 18 areas reported that the percentage of persons linked to care was greater than 65%, the baseline measure indicated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Conclusions: A wide range in percent linked to HIV medical care was observed between residents of 18 urban areas in the United States with noted age and racial disparities. Routine testing and linkage efforts and intensified prevention efforts should be considered to increase access to primary HIV-related medical care.
AB - Background: Residents of urban areas have accounted for the majority of persons diagnosed with HIV disease in the United States. Linking persons recently diagnosed with HIV to primary medical care is an important indicator in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Methods: We analyzed data reported to the HIV Surveillance System in 18 urban areas in the United States. Standardized executable SAS programs were distributed to determine the number of HIV cases living through 2008, number of HIV cases diagnosed in 2009, and the percentage of those diagnosed in 2009 who had reported CD4 lymphocyte or HIV viral load test results within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. Data were presented by jurisdiction, age group at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex at birth, birth country, disease stage, and transmission category. Results: By jurisdiction, the percentage of persons diagnosed in 2009 with at least 1 CD4 or HIV viral load test within 3 months of diagnosis ranged from 48.5% to 92.5% (median: 70.9). The percentage of persons linked to care varied by age group and by racial/ethnic groups. Fourteen of the 18 areas reported that the percentage of persons linked to care was greater than 65%, the baseline measure indicated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Conclusions: A wide range in percent linked to HIV medical care was observed between residents of 18 urban areas in the United States with noted age and racial disparities. Routine testing and linkage efforts and intensified prevention efforts should be considered to increase access to primary HIV-related medical care.
KW - HIV
KW - HIV care indicators
KW - HIV in urban areas
KW - HIV infection
KW - Linkage to care
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U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000619
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000619
M3 - Article
C2 - 25844695
AN - SCOPUS:84941796647
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 69
SP - 487
EP - 492
JO - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
JF - Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
IS - 4
ER -