Factors Associated with PrEP Persistence and Loss of Follow-Up: A 5-Year Historic Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been used in France since 2016. Its effectiveness is no longer to be demonstrated. However, follow-up and adherence remain the main pitfalls. The main objective of this study was to identify factors associated with persistence or loss of PrEP follow-up. DESIGN: An historic cohort of PrEP users was compiled from the database of consultations in the Indre-et-Loire dedicated sexual health centers (CeGIDD) from June 2016 to June 2021. METHODS: Kaplan-Meier curves were performed to compare the group of persistent PrEP users to the discontinuation group. Factors associated with PrEP discontinuation were identified using Cox modelling, considering time-dependent variables. Final variables included in the model were selected based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and clinical relevance. RESULTS: Over the period, 568 PrEP users were included in the cohort. Median follow-up was 2.3 years. A quarter of users were lost to follow-up within 3 months after PrEP initiation. Sexual risk reduction AIDS community-based support (HR = 0.65[0.42;0.99]), being in a couple (HR = 0.51[0.38;0.68]), and history of syphilis (HR = 0.57[0.40;0.81]) were significantly associated with persistence of follow-up. Remote consultations (HR = 2.74[1.63;4.61]), chemsex practices (HR = 2.01[1.29;3.14]), and side effects (HR=1.72[1.03;2.88]) were significantly associated with a loss of follow-up. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that more sexual risk reduction AIDS community-based counseling could be a key, necessary for supporting PrEP users in their follow-up pathway. Indeed, AIDS community-based support could be used to build a basis for developing safe pathways. Remote consultations could represent a response to the issue of access to PrEP. To create a significant impact on global HIV incidence, the PrEP offer must be extended, and at-risk PrEP users supported to maintain PrEP use.

Advantages and limits of remote consultations for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis health pathway: ePrEP qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: Because of a high rate of HIV diagnosis and restricted medical access in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France , remote consultations (RC) with a community-based approach has been implemented to promote access to healthcare. Our study aimed to determine whether RC could improve access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men (MSM) as part of the healthcare pathway associated with PrEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with 17 MSM and 3 physicians from specialized sexual health centres was performed, with a mean duration of interview over one hour. The research focused on the health pathway associated with PrEP, from initial awareness to ongoing prescription and follow-up. RESULTS: Transitioning PrEP consultations to RC is feasible, but concerns about a potential decline in care quality compared to traditional sexual health centres follow-ups were noted. Both MSM and physicians recognized that RC could complement face-to-face approaches, especially in terms of organizational benefits. In rural areas, access to specialists through RC was seen as a partial solution, though it could be hindered by barriers in accessing laboratory testing and pharmacy services, like fear of stigmatization. More generally, distrust of medication and the difficulty of discussing sexuality with a GP were highlighted, which could limit the uptake of PrEP without access to specialists. CONCLUSIONS: The initiation and uptake of PrEP among MSM are more effectively influenced by initiatives that provide information, reassurance, and facilitate initial procedures, rather than solely through RC. A strategy combining digital and community-based approaches, along with medical expertise, is recommended to increase PrEP utilization among MSM.

Étude qualitative de l'acceptabilité de la téléconsultation pour le traitement préventif du VIH.

Introduction : In France, the incidence of HIV infections remains at 6,000 infections a year. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) could reduce this number. Despite available reimbursement since 2016 to exposed populations, the recipients remain mostly men who have sex with men (MSM) living in large cities. In Center-Val de Loire, where newly HIV diagnoses and difficulties of access to care are tremendous, community tele-support and dedicated teleconsultations have been launched to promote access, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to identify the interests and limits of these teleconsultations for PreP users.Purpose of research : E-PrEP qualitative study conducted by semi-structured interviews with MSM PrEP users allowing the thematic analysis of eight interviews lasting an average of one hour, conducted with MSM taking at least one teleconsultation.Results : The teleconsultation met user expectations with good acceptability. It integrated naturally into the associated preventive care pathway where applicable. The description of a more impersonal face-to–face exchange is balanced by establishing a trusting relationship. Teleconsultation has sometimes eased talking about sexuality. An enhanced confidentiality could represent a specific motif to choose teleconsultation. Access to the specialist seems to be an asset compared to a GP follow-up hardly chosen for this type of consultation. Fears of lack of discretion or judgmental behavior from these unspecialized healthcare professionals were pronounced..Conclusions : The deployment of teleconsultations can be encouraged to facilitate access to PrEP with vigilance on the associated health path.

Early Plasma Magnesium in Near-Term and Term Infants with Neonatal Encephalopathy in the Context of Perinatal Asphyxia.

Magnesium ions are implicated in brain functioning. The disruption of brain metabolism subsequent to a perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic insult may be reflected by plasma magnesium. Infants at 36 weeks after birth or later with neonatal encephalopathy and who were admitted to our neonatal unit from 2011 to 2019 were retrospectively included. The kinetics of plasma magnesium were investigated for the first 72 h of life and correlated to the Barkovich MRI score. Among the 125 infants who met the inclusion criteria, 45 patients (36%) had moderate to severe brain lesions on neonatal MRI. Plasma magnesium values were not strongly associated with the severity of clinical encephalopathy, initial EEG background and brain lesions. Intriguingly, higher plasma magnesium values during the 0−6 h period were linked to the presence of brain injuries that predominated within the white matter (p < 0.001) and to the requirement of cardiac resuscitation in the delivery room (p = 0.001). The occurrence of seizures was associated with a lower mean magnesium value around the 24th hour of life (p = 0.005). This study supports that neonatal encephalopathy is a complex and multifactorial condition. Plasma magnesium could help to better identify the subtypes of neonatal encephalopathy. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in this prospect.