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286187
HIV care continuum, Georgia, United States, 2011
Background: With the advent of active antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV are living longer, healthier lives. Linkage to care, retention in care, and viral suppression are critical for improving survival and reducing transmissibility. Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recognizes the need for monitoring the HIV care continuum in Georgia.
Methods: Laboratory surveillance data from 2011 were analyzed for adults and adolescents with HIV infection in Georgia from the Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS). Indicators of the HIV care continuum, including linkage to care (CD4 or viral load (VL) <3 months after diagnosis), retention in care (> 1 VL in 2011), and viral suppression (most recent VL<200 copies/ml) were estimated by demographic and transmission categories.
Results: Seventy-one percent of newly-diagnosed HIV infections (3725) were linked to care. Among these, populations least linked to care were males (70%), age group 13-24 years (60%); Black, non-Hispanics (68%), men having sex with men (MSM) (69%), and Black, non-Hispanic injection drug users (IDU) (71%). Among all persons living with HIV (41,935), 52% were retained in care; 73% were virally-suppressed. Least retained in care were Hispanic/Latino IDU males (33%); least virally-suppressed among those in care were Black, non-Hispanic IDU females (68%).
Conclusions: Analyzing Georgia's care continuum contributes data to target HIV prevention and treatment by identifying groups at greatest risk. Further stratification by geographic region, socioeconomic factors, and care facility is needed. Monitoring the care continuum can be used to re-engage out-of-care patients.
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Epidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Learning Objectives:
Describe the HIV care continuum in Georgia, 2011
Keywords: Prevention, Data/Surveillance
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As an epidemiologist in the HIV Epidemiology Section, Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH), I monitor the HIV epidemic in the state of Georgia and nation by actively analyzing HIV infection data and writing epidemiological reports/articles/abstracts for researchers, clinicians, stakeholders and general public. I also collaborate with both the Georgia statewide and Fulton County Community Planning Groups, Georgia providing epidemiological research findings to inform their decision-making process with regards to HIV care and prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.