10% of HIV Patients in Regular Care Do Not Have Sustained Viral Suppression

Only 10% of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in regular care did not achieve viral suppression in 2014, according to a recent study.

For their study, the researchers assessed 339,515 individuals with HIV who had at least 2 viral load tests in 2014. Data from 33 jurisdictions with complete reporting of CD4 and viral load tests were obtained from the National HIV Surveillance System.
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Participants were categorized based on their first and last viral loads in 2014. Groups included both suppressed, first unsuppressed and last suppressed (improved), first suppressed and last unsuppressed (worsened), and both unsuppressed. Additionally, the researchers determined the number and percentage of participants whose only viral load in 2014 was suppressed and had a suppressed viral load at their last test in 2013.

Results indicated that 72.6% of participants had all viral loads durably suppressed, and 75.5% were suppressed at their first and last tests. A total of 10.5% of participants had improved, 4.2% had worsened, and 9.9% had been unsuppressed at both tests.

The researchers noted that, of 92,309 participants who had only 1 viral load test in 2014, 69,960 (75.8%) were suppressed. Of these participants, 52,834 (76.9%) were suppressed at their last test in 2013.

“National surveillance data show that the majority of patients in HIV care during 2014 were durably suppressed,” the researchers concluded. “More showed improved compared with worsened viral suppression status. Some patients who have less frequent care visits have sustained viral suppression. Yet one in 10 who was in regular care did not have a suppressed viral load in 2014, indicating missed opportunities for clinical interventions to help patients achieve and sustain viral suppression.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Crepaz N, Tang T, Marks G, Hall HI. Changes in viral suppression status among US HIV-infected patients receiving care. AIDS. 2017;31(17):2421-2425. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000001660.