Longitudinal Changes in, and Factors Associated with, the Frequency of Condomless Sex Among People in Care for HIV Infection, HIV Outpatient Study USA, 2007-2019.

During 2007-2019, the percentage of HIV Outpatient Study participants reporting anal or vaginal condomless sex in the past 6 months ranged from a low of 17% among heterosexual males to 59% for men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM reported having had condomless sex more frequently than heterosexual males and females and were the only group in which an increase in condomless sex was observed during the study period (from 39 to 59%). Although persons with undetectable HIV viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually (U = U), there is still the potential risk of transmission or acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when engaging in condomless sex. Continuing education about risks of HIV and STI transmission as well as ongoing screening for and treatment of STIs, retention in HIV treatment, and support for sexual health are critical components of care for people living with HIV.

Exploring the influence of telehealth on patient engagement with a multidisciplinary Non-Epileptic Seizure (NES) Clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ILAE task force has identified a gap in treatment access for patients with nonepileptic seizures (NES) [1]. Access to multidisciplinary treatment clinics for adults with NES is limited with only 18 institutions delivering care across the United States [2]. Patient engagement has been low in the University of Colorado, NES Clinic treatment program despite our clinic's status as the only clinic of its kind in the mountain west. We analyzed patient factors of those who engaged in treatment before and after COVID-19 regulations were imposed and found a 23.6% increase in treatment engagement using telehealth. Those who engaged using telehealth were more likely to be of white race, of non-Hispanic ethnicity, publicly insured, employed, have a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of zero, a daily seizure rate of 0-1, did not have suicidal ideation or attempts, and live greater than 25 miles from the NES clinic. Delivering NES treatment via telehealth reduced the logistical and psychological barriers to initiating recovery and with a severe lack of accessible treatments for patients with NES, barrier reduction is necessary. This study describes patient factors that result in higher engagement with NES treatment using telehealth and emphasizes the importance of telehealth utilization to improve access to available treatment.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Incidence and Testing Among Patients in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Outpatient Study (HOPS), 2007-2017.

BACKGROUND: Although chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) infections are increasing in the United States, there are limited data on their incidence, testing rates, and associated risk factors among persons living with HIV (PLWH), including by anatomic site among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS: We analyzed 2007-2017 medical records data from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Outpatient Study (HOPS) participants in care at 9 HIV clinics. We calculated CT (and GC) incidence and testing rates and assessed associations with sociodemographic and clinical factors using log-linear regression. RESULTS: Among 4727 PLWH, 397 had 881 CT infections and 331 had 861 GC infections, with an incidence of 2.95 and 2.88 per 100 person-years, respectively. From 2007 to 2017, incidence and testing rates increased by approximately 3.0- and 1.9-fold for CT and GC, respectively. Multivariable factors associated with incident CT (GC) included younger age, MSM, and prior diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among 1159 MSM, 583 (50.3%) had 844 CT and 843 GC tests during 2016-2017, and 26.6% of tests were 3-site (urethra, rectum, and pharynx), yielding the highest rates of CT (GC) detection. Multivariable factors associated with CT (GC) testing included younger age, non-Hispanic/Latino black race, and having prior STDs. CONCLUSIONS: Recent CT and GC incidence and testing increased among PLWH; however, only half of MSM were tested for CT or GC during 2016-2017 and less than a third of tests were 3-site. To promote sexual health and STD prevention among PLWH who are MSM, research regarding the added value of CT and GC testing across 3 anatomic sites is needed.

Rates of suicidal ideation among HIV-infected patients in care in the HIV Outpatient Study 2000-2017, USA.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation (SI) refers to an individual thinking about, considering or planning suicide. Identifying and characterizing persons with HIV (PWH) at greater risk for SI may lead to better suicide prevention strategies and quality of life improvement. METHODS: Using clinical data gathered from medical chart abstraction for HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) participants from 2000 to 2017, we assessed SI frequency among PWH in care and explored factors associated with the presence of SI diagnoses using linear mixed models analyses. RESULTS: Among 6706 participants, 224 (3.3%) had a charted diagnosis of SI. Among those with SI, median age (interquartile range [IQR]) was 43.4 years [IQR: 38.7-50.3], median (IQR) CD4+ cell count was 439 cells/mm3 (IQR: 237-686), 71.4% were male, 54% were men who have sex with men (MSM), 25.4% heterosexual, and 13.4% persons who inject drugs. In multivariable analysis, persons at increased risk for SI were more likely to be: <50 years old (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 1.86, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.36-2.53), non-Hispanic/Latino black (aRR 1.75; 95%CI 1.29-2.38), have CD4+ cell count <350 cells/mm3 (aRR 1.32; 95%CI 1.05-1.65), have a viral load ≥50 copies/mL (aRR 1.49; 95%CI 1.12-1.98), have stopped antiretroviral therapy (aRR 1.46; 95%CI 1.10-1.95), have a history of: alcohol dependence (aRR 2.75; 95%CI 1.67-4.52), and drug overdose (aRR 4.09; 95%CI 2.16-7.71). CONCLUSION: Routine mental health assessment and monitoring are needed in HIV clinical practice to better understand factors associated with SI and to inform the development of preventive interventions.

Disparities in Viral Suppression and Medication Adherence among Women in the USA, 2011-2016.

We assessed disparities in viral suppression (VS) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among women of the HIV Outpatient Study to inform HIV treatment strategies. We used adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess VS by race/ethnicity and generalized estimating equations to investigate factors associated with not achieving VS and ART non-adherence. Among 426 women (median age = 46 years), at baseline, VS was less prevalent among black women (63%) compared with Hispanic women/Latinas (73%) and white women (78%). In the multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with not achieving VS included the following social and behavioral determinants of care: using public insurance (aPR = 1.69, CI 1.01-2.82, p = 0.044) compared to using private insurance, seeking care in a public clinic (aPR = 1.60, CI 1.03-2.50, p = 0.037) compared to seeking care in a private clinic, and ART non-adherence (aPR = 2.79, CI 1.81-4.29), p < 0.001). Although race was not a significant factor in not achieving VS, race was associated with ART non-adherence; black women were more likely to miss a dose of ART medication (aPR = 2.07, CI 1.19-3.60, p = 0.010) when compared to white women and Hispanic women/Latinas. Interventions and resources disseminated to address social barriers to care and improve VS and ART adherence among HIV-positive women, particularly black women, are warranted.

Risk Factors and Incidence of Syphilis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Persons: The HIV Outpatient Study, 1999-2015.

Background: Since 2000, the incidence of syphilis has been increasing, especially among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. We assessed temporal trends and associated risk factors for newly diagnosed syphilis infections among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients during a 16-year period. Methods: We analyzed data from the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) cohort participants at 10 US HIV clinics during 1999-2015. New syphilis cases were defined based on laboratory parameters and clinical diagnoses. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analyses of sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors for new syphilis infections. Results: We studied 6888 HIV-infected participants; 641 had 1 or more new syphilis diagnoses during a median follow-up of 5.2 years. Most participants were male (78%), aged 31-50 years, and 57% were MSM. The overall incidence was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-1.9) per 100 person-years (PY) and it increased from 0.4 (95% CI, .2-.8) to 2.2 (95% CI, 1.4-3.5) per 100 PY during 1999-2015. In multivariable analyses adjusting for calendar year, risk factors for syphilis included age 18-30 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.6]) vs 31-40 years, being MSM (HR, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.4-4.1]) vs heterosexual male, and being non-Hispanic black (HR, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.4-1.9]) vs non-Hispanic white. Conclusions: The increases in the syphilis incidence rate through 2015 reflect ongoing sexual risk and highlight the need for enhanced prevention interventions among HIV-infected patients in care.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction in the HIV Outpatient Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools are often applied to populations beyond those in which they were designed when validated tools for specific subpopulations are unavailable. METHODS: Using data from 2283 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults aged ≥18 years, who were active in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS), we assessed performance of 3 commonly used CVD prediction models developed for general populations: Framingham general cardiovascular Risk Score (FRS), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Pooled Cohort equations (PCEs), and Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) high-risk equation, and 1 model developed in HIV-infected persons: the Data Collection on Adverse Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study equation. C-statistics assessed model discrimination and the ratio of expected to observed events (E/O) and Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 P value assessed calibration. RESULTS: From January 2002 through September 2013, 195 (8.5%) HOPS participants experienced an incident CVD event in 15 056 person-years. The FRS demonstrated moderate discrimination and was well calibrated (C-statistic: 0.66, E/O: 1.01, P = .89). The PCE and D:A:D risk equations demonstrated good discrimination but were less well calibrated (C-statistics: 0.71 and 0.72 and E/O: 0.88 and 0.80, respectively; P < .001 for both), whereas SCORE performed poorly (C-statistic: 0.59, E/O: 1.72; P = .48). CONCLUSIONS: Only the FRS accurately estimated risk of CVD events, while PCE and D:A:D underestimated risk. Although these models could potentially be used to rank US HIV-infected individuals at higher or lower risk for CVD, the models may fail to identify substantial numbers of HIV-infected persons with elevated CVD risk who could potentially benefit from additional medical treatment.

Trends in use of genotypic resistance testing and frequency of major drug resistance among antiretroviral-naive persons in the HIV Outpatient Study, 1999-2011.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring antiretroviral drug resistance can inform treatment recommendations; however, there are few such data from US patients before they initiate ART. METHODS: We analysed data from HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) participants from nine US HIV clinics who were diagnosed with HIV infection during 1999-2011. Using the IAS-USA December 2010 guidelines, we assessed the frequency of major drug resistance mutations (mDRMs) related to antiretroviral agents in viral isolates from patients who underwent commercial genotypic testing (GT) for resistance before initiating ART. We employed general linear regression models to assess factors associated with having undergone GT, and then factors associated with having mDRM. RESULTS: Among 1531 eligible patients, 758 (49.5%) underwent GT before first ART, increasing from 15.5% in 1999-2002 to 75.9% in 2009-11 (P < 0.001). GT was carried out a median of 1.2 months after the diagnosis of HIV. In adjusted regression analyses, patients with pre-ART CD4+ T lymphocyte counts ≥200 cells/mm(3) or with HIV RNA levels >5.0 log10 copies/mL and those with a first HOPS visit in 2006 or later were significantly (P < 0.05) more likely to have undergone GT. Of the 758 patients, 114 (15.0%) had mDRMs; mutations relating to NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs were present in 8.0%, 7.1% and 2.6%, respectively. There was no temporal change in the frequency of mDRM, and mDRMs were associated with an HIV RNA level <4.0 log10 copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: During 1999-2011, GT use among antiretroviral-naive patients became more common, but a quarter of patients in recent years remained untested. The frequency of mDRMs remained stable over time at about 15%.

Factors associated with mortality among persistently viraemic triple-antiretroviral-class-experienced patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS).

BACKGROUND: Identifying factors associated with mortality for HIV-infected patients with persistent viraemia despite antiretroviral (ARV) therapy may inform diagnostic and treatment strategies. METHODS: We analysed data from viraemic triple-ARV-class-experienced HIV Outpatient Study patients seen during 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2012 who, despite treatment that included ARVs from three major drug classes [nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors (PIs)], had plasma HIV RNA levels [viral load (VL)] >1000 copies/mL ['triple ARV class failure' (TCF)]. The baseline was defined as the date of meeting the TCF criteria during 1999-2008. We identified factors associated with mortality using Cox regression. RESULTS: Of 597 patients who met the TCF criteria (median follow-up after baseline 4.9 years), 115 (19.3%) died. Baseline factors associated with mortality were age per 10 years [hazard ratio (HR) 1.61, 95% CI 1.28-2.02], risk of HIV from use of injection drugs (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.10-2.98), CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/mm(3) (HR 3.68, 95% CI 2.41-5.62), VL ≥5.0 log10 copies/mL (HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.88-4.49) and receiving a first combination ARV therapy regimen that was PI-based (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.47-4.06); receiving a novel ARV agent during follow-up (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22-0.93) was protective. Genotypic resistance testing results were available for 274 (45.9%) of the TCF patients, of whom 47 (17.2%) died. In this group, factors associated with death were increasing age (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.36-2.78, per 10 year increment), risk of HIV from use of injection drugs (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.37-5.39), baseline VL ≥5.0 log10 copies/mL (HR 5.35, 95% CI 2.82-10.1) and receiving PI-based first combination ARV therapy regimen (HR 3.20, 95% CI 1.25-8.17). No HIV mutations or combinations of mutations were significantly associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Factors significantly associated with mortality risk among TCF patients who received ongoing ARV therapy included traditional clinical predictors but not the presence, type or number of HIV genetic mutations. The use of novel ARV drugs by these ARV therapy-experienced patients was associated with an improved survival.

Emerging from the shadows: Trends in HIV ambulatory care, viral load testing, and viral suppression in a U.S. HIV cohort, 2019-2022: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

This article aimed at analyzing the acute impact and the longer-term recovery of COVID-19 pandemic effects on clinical encounter types, HIV viral load (VL) testing, and suppression (HIV VL < 200 copies/mL). This study was a longitudinal cohort study of participants seen during 2019-2022 at nine HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) sites. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) estimated monthly rates of all encounters, office and telemedicine visits, and HIV VL tests using 2010-2022 data. We examined factors associated with nonsuppressed VL (VL ≥ 200 copies/mL) and not having ambulatory care visits during the pandemic using GLMM for logistic regression with 2017-2022 and 2019-2022 data, respectively. Of 2351 active participants, 76.0% were male, 57.6% aged ≥ 50 years, 40.7% non-Hispanic White, 38.2% non-Hispanic Black, 17.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 51.0% publicly insured. The monthly rates of in-person and telemedicine visits varied during 2020 through mid-year 2022. Multivariable logistic regression showed that persons with no encounters were more likely to be male or have VL ≥ 200 copies/mL. For participants with ≥1 VL test, the prevalence rate of HIV VL ≥ 200 copies/mL during 2020 was close to the rates from 2014 to 2019. The change in probability of viral suppression was not associated with participant's age, sex, race/ethnicity, or insurance type. In the HOPS, overall patient encounters declined over 2 years during the pandemic with variations in telemedicine and in-person events, with relative maintenance of viral suppression. Ongoing recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on ambulatory care will require continued efforts to improve retention and patient access to medical services.

Polypharmacy and risk of antiretroviral drug interactions among the aging HIV-infected population.

BACKGROUND: Among aging HIV-infected adults, polypharmacy and its consequences have not been well-described. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the extent of polypharmacy and the risk of antiretroviral (ARV) drug interactions among persons of different ages. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis among patients within the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) cohort who were prescribed ARVs during 2006-2010. MAIN MEASURES: We used the University of Liverpool HIV drug interactions database to identify ARV/non-ARV interactions with potential for clinical significance. KEY RESULTS: Of 3,810 patients analyzed (median age 46 years, 34 % ≥ 50 years old) at midpoint of observation, 1,494 (39 %) patients were prescribed ≥ 5 non-ARV medications: 706 (54 %) of 1,312 patients ≥ 50 years old compared with 788 (32 %) of 2,498 patients < 50 years. During the five-year period, the number of patients who were prescribed at least one ARV/non-ARV combination that was contraindicated or had moderate or high evidence of interaction was 267 (7 %) and 1,267 (33 %), respectively. Variables independently associated with having been prescribed a contraindicated ARV/non-ARV combination included older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 10 years of age 1.17, 95 % CI 1.01-1.35), anxiety (aOR 1.78, 95 % CI 1.32-2.40), dyslipidemia (aOR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.28-2.99), higher daily non-ARV medication burden (aOR 1.13, 95 % CI 1.10-1.17), and having been prescribed a protease inhibitor (aOR 2.10, 95 % CI 1.59-2.76). Compared with patients < 50 years, older patients were more likely to have been prescribed an ARV/non-ARV combination that was contraindicated (unadjusted OR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.14-1.82), or had moderate or high evidence of interaction (unadjusted OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.15-1.44). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of patients were prescribed at least one ARV/non-ARV combination that was contraindicated or had potential for a clinically significant interaction. As HIV-infected patients age and experience multiple comorbidities, systematic reviews of current medications by providers may reduce risk of such exposures.

Provider compliance with guidelines for management of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients.

INTRODUCTION: Compliance with National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) guidelines has been shown to significantly reduce incident cardiovascular events. We investigated physicians' compliance with NCEP guidelines to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in a population infected with HIV. METHODS: We analyzed HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) data, following eligible patients from January 1, 2002, or first HOPS visit thereafter to calculate 10-year cardiovascular risk (10yCVR), until September 30, 2009, death, or last office visit. We categorized participants into four 10yCVR strata, according to guidelines determined by NCEP, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group. We calculated percentages of patients treated for dyslipidemia and hypertension, calculated percentages of patients who achieved recommended goals, and categorized them by 10yCVR stratum. RESULTS: Of 2,005 patients analyzed, 33.7% had fewer than 2 CVD risk factors. For patients who had 2 or more risk factors, 10yCVR was less than 10% for 28.2%, 10% to 20% for 18.2%, and higher than 20% for 20.0% of patients. Of patients eligible for treatment, 81% to 87% were treated for elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/non-HDL-C), 2% to 11% were treated for low HDL-C, 56% to 91% were treated for high triglycerides, and 46% to 69% were treated for hypertension. Patients in higher 10yCVR categories were less likely to meet treatment goals than patients in lower 10yCVR categories. CONCLUSION: At least one-fifth of contemporary HOPS patients have a 10yCVR higher than 20%, yet a large percentage of at-risk patients who were eligible for pharmacologic treatment did not receive recommended interventions and did not reach recommended treatment goals. Opportunities exist for CVD prevention in the HIV-infected population.

The associations among coping, nadir CD4+ T-cell count, and non-HIV-related variables with health-related quality of life among an ambulatory HIV-positive patient population.

PURPOSE: We investigated HRQoL among HIV-positive outpatients from October, 2006-December, 2007, incorporating medical chart review, and a survey of coping styles. METHODS: Consented HIV-positive patients receiving medical care at University of Colorado Denver, with HAART as first antiretroviral regimen, completed the MOS-HIV and Brief COPE survey instruments. Linear regression identified a priori factors hypothesized to be associated with the MOS-HIV composite mental and physical health scores (MHS, PHS). Brief COPE survey maladaptive and adaptive coping components were added to the models and retained if significant. RESULTS: Among the 157 patient cohort, parsimonious multivariable linear regression models (P < 0.05) indicated higher nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and adaptive coping were associated with a higher MHS; public/no insurance, mental illness, current number of non-HIV medications, and maladaptive coping were inversely associated with MHS. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count and efavirenz use were associated with a higher PHS; mental illness, current number of non-HIV mediations, and maladaptive coping were inversely associated with PHS. CONCLUSIONS: Factors independently associated with lower MHS and lower PHS include lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts, and use of maladaptive coping. Efforts to reduce use of maladaptive coping strategies and earlier identification and treatment of HIV may improve HRQoL in HIV-positive patients.

A Heavy Burden: Preexisting Physical and Psychiatric Comorbidities and Differential Increases Among Male and Female Participants After Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in the HIV Outpatient Study, 2008-2018.

Attention to non-AIDS comorbidities is increasingly important in the HIV care and management in the United States. We sought to assess comorbidities before and after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among persons with HIV (PWH). Using the 2008-2018 HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) data, we assessed changes in prevalence of physical and psychiatric comorbidities, by sex, among participants initiating ART. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to investigate factors associated with the first documented occurrence of key comorbidities, adjusting for demographics and other covariates, including insurance type, CD4+ cell count, ART regimen, and smoking status. Among 1,236 participants who initiated ART (median age 36 years, CD4 cell count 375 cells/mm3), 79% were male, 66% non-white, 44% publicly insured, 53% ever smoked, 33% had substance use history, and 22% had body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Among females, the percentages with at least one condition were: at ART start, 72% had a physical and 42% a psychiatric comorbidity, and after a median of 6.1 years of follow-up, these were 87% and 63%, respectively. Among males, the percentages with at least one condition were: at ART start, 61% had a physical and 32% a psychiatric comorbidity, and after a median of 4.6 years of follow-up, these were 82% and 53%, respectively. In multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses, increasing age and higher viral loads (VL) were associated with most physical comorbidities, and being a current/former smoker and higher VL were associated with all psychiatric comorbidities analyzed. HOPS participants already had a substantial burden of physical and psychiatric comorbidities at the time of ART initiation. With advancing age, PWH who initiate ART experience a clinically significant increase in the burden of chronic non-HIV comorbidities that warrants continued surveillance, prevention, and treatment.

Aging, trends in CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio, and clinical outcomes with persistent HIV suppression in a dynamic cohort of ambulatory HIV patients.

BACKGROUND: Age blunts CD4+ lymphocyte cell count/µl (CD4+) improvements observed with antiretroviral therapy (ART)-induced viral suppression among people with HIV (PWH). Prolonged viral suppression reduces immune dysregulation, reflected by rising CD4+/CD8+ ratios (CD4+/CD8+). We studied CD4+/CD8+ over time to determine whether it predicts risk for select comorbidities and mortality among aging PWH with viral suppression. METHODS: We studied HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) participants prescribed ART during 2000-2018 who achieved a viral load less than 200 copies/ml on or after 1 January 2000, and remained virally suppressed at least 1 year thereafter. We modeled associations of CD4+/CD8+ with select incident comorbidities and all-cause mortality using Cox regression and controlling for demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: Of 2480 eligible participants,1145 (46%) were aged less than 40 years, 835 (34%) 40-49 years, and 500 (20%) ≥ 50 years. At baseline, median CD4+/CD8+ was 0.53 (interquartile range: 0.30-0.84) and similar among all age groups (P = 0.18). CD4+/CD8+ values and percentage of participants with CD4+/CD8+ at least 0.70 increased within each age group (P < 0.001 for all). CD4+/CD8+ increase was greatest for PWH aged less than 40 years at baseline. In adjusted models, most recent CD4+/CD8+less than 1.00 and less than 0.70 were independently associated with higher risk of non-AIDS cancer and mortality, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment immune dysregulation may persist as indicated by CD4+/CD8+ less than 0.70. Persistent viral suppression can improve immune dysregulation over time, reducing comorbidity, and mortality risk. Monitoring CD4+/CD8+ among ART-treated PWH with lower values provide a means to assess for mortality and comorbidity risk.

Office "Phone First" Systems Reduce Emergency Department/Urgent Care Utilization by Medicaid-Enrolled Children.

BACKGROUND: Emergency department and urgent care (ED/UC) visits for common conditions can be more expensive with less continuity than office care provided by primary care physicians. METHODS: We used quality-improvement methods to enhance telephone triage for pediatric patients by adding additional "Phone First" services including: 1) enhanced office-hours telephone triage and advice with available same-day appointments, 2) follow-up calls to parents of children self-referred to an ED/UC, and 3) parent education to telephone the office for advice prior to seeking acute care. We hypothesized that enhanced office services would reduce ED/UC utilization and cost. We compared changes in ED/UC encounter rates between intervention and regional practices for 4 years (2014-2017) using general linear models, and evaluated balancing measures (after-hour phone calls, acute care phone calls, acute care visits, well child visits) for Medicaid-enrolled and commercially-insured children. RESULTS: The study practices dramatically increased office-hours acute care phone triage and advice which correlated with 23.8% to 80.5% (P < 0.001) reductions in ED/UC rates for Medicaid-enrolled children. Office acute care visits decreased modestly. ED/UC visits did not decrease for children in the comparison region. In phone surveys, 94% of parents indicated satisfaction with the ED/UC follow-up call. The decrease in ED/UC visits resulted in an estimated annual cost of care savings for Medicaid-enrolled children in 2017 of $12.61 per member per month which projected to $169 million cost of care savings in Colorado and $6.8 billion in the United States. CONCLUSION: "Phone First" services in pediatric practices during office-hours reduced ED/UC encounters and cost of care for Medicaid-enrolled children.

Insurance-associated disparities in hospitalization outcomes of Michigan children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether children in Michigan with private insurance have better hospitalization-related outcomes than those with public or no insurance. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based hospitalization rates were calculated for newborns and children aged <18 years in Michigan for the years 2001-2006 and stratified by age, disease grouping, and health insurance status using inpatient records from the Michigan Inpatient Database and population estimates from the US Census Current Population Survey. RESULTS: Michigan children with public/no insurance had significantly higher overall hospital admission rates and admission rates for ambulatory-sensitive conditions, and were more likely to be admitted through the emergency room, compared with those with private health insurance. Similarly, newborns with public/no insurance had significantly higher rates of hospitalization-related outcomes. Hospital charges per child were higher in the public/no insurance population, translating to potential excess charges of between $309.8 and $401.8 million in 2006. CONCLUSIONS: There are disparities in health outcomes and charges between Michigan children and newborns with public/no insurance and those with private health insurance, presenting a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency and efficacy of care.

Rates and correlates of influenza vaccination among HIV-infected adults in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS), USA, 1999-2008.

BACKGROUND: We sought to describe rates of vaccination among HIV-infected adults in care and identify factors associated with vaccination. METHODS: Using data abstracted from medical records of participants in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) during 8 influenza seasons (1999-2008) and negative binomial models with generalized estimating equation methods, we examined factors associated with increased prevalence of annual influenza vaccination. RESULTS: Among active patients, 25.8% to 43.3% were vaccinated for influenza each year (annual mean=35%, test for trend p=0.71). Vaccination rates peaked in October and November of each season and decreased sharply thereafter. In multivariable analysis, patients who were male (67.2%), non-Hispanic white (70%) or Hispanic (66%), had lower HIV viral loads (73.5%), were prescribed antiretroviral treatment (72.7%), or had a greater number of clinical encounters per year (86.7%) were more likely to receive influenza vaccination. DISCUSSION: The decreased likelihood of vaccination among women and non-Hispanic black patients suggests the need for focused efforts to reduce disparities. Increasing patient and clinician education on the importance of universal vaccination, and ensuring that vaccination activities continue in HIV clinics during the later months of the influenza season may improve influenza vaccine coverage.

HIV viral exposure and mortality in a multicenter ambulatory HIV adult cohort, United States, 1995-2016.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to identify viral exposure (VE) measures and their relationship to mortality risk among persons with HIV.Prospective multicenter observational study to compare VE formulae.Eligible participants initiated first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) between March 1, 1995 and June 30, 2015. We included 1645 participants followed for ≥6 months after starting first cART, with cART prescribed ≥75% of time, who underwent ≥2 plasma viral load (VL) and ≥1 CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell (CD4) measurement during observation. We evaluated all-cause mortality from 6 months after cART initiation until June 30, 2016. VE was quantified using 2 time-updated variables: viremia copy-years and percent of person-years (%PY) spent >200 or 50 copies/mL. Cox models were fit to estimate associations between VE and mortality.Participants contributed 10,453 person years [py], with median 14 VLs per patient. Median %PY >200 or >50 were 10% (interquartile range: 1%-47%) and 26% (interquartile range: 6%-72%), respectively. There were 115 deaths, for an overall mortality rate of 1.19 per 100 person years. In univariate models, each measure of VE was significantly associated with mortality risk, as were older age, public insurance, injection drug use HIV risk history, and lower pre-cART CD4. Based on model fit, most recent viral load and %PY >200 copies/mL provided the best combination of VE factors to predict mortality, although all VE combinations evaluated performed well.The combination of most recent VL and %PY >200 copies/mL best predicted mortality, although all evaluated VE measures performed well.

Hepatitis C Virus Testing Among Men With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Who Have Sex With Men: Temporal Trends and Racial/Ethnic Disparities.

BACKGROUND: National guidelines recommend that sexually active people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) who are men who have sex with men (MSM) be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at least annually. Hepatitis C virus testing rates vary by race/ethnicity in the general population, but limited data are available for PWH. METHODS: We analyzed medical records data from MSM in the HIV Outpatient Study at 9 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2019. We excluded observation time after documented past or current HCV infection. We evaluated HCV antibody testing in each calendar year among HCV-seronegative MSM, and we assessed testing correlates by generalized estimating equation analyses. RESULTS: Of 1829 eligible MSM who were PWH, 1174 (64.2%) were non-Hispanic/Latino white (NHW), 402 (22.0%) non-Hispanic black (NHB), 187 (10.2%) Hispanic/Latino, and 66 (3.6%) of other race/ethnicity. Most were ≥40 years old (68.9%), privately insured (64.5%), with CD4 cell count/mm3 (CD4) ≥350 (77.0%), and with HIV viral load <200 copies/mL (76.9%). During 2011-2019, 1205 (65.9%) had ≥1 HCV antibody test and average annual HCV percentage tested was 30.3% (from 33.8% for NHB to 28.5% for NHW; P < .001). Multivariable factors positively associated (P < .05) with HCV testing included more recent HIV diagnosis, public insurance, lower CD4, prior chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, or hepatitis B virus diagnoses, and elevated liver enzyme levels, but not race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no disparities by race/ethnicity in HCV testing, low overall HCV testing rates indicate suboptimal uptake of recommended HCV testing among MSM in HIV care.