AIDS 2020 Select Studies of Interest from CDC

Cross-posted from CDC NCHHSTP Newsroom

CDC scientists will be presenting more than 20 abstracts at AIDS 2020. Several studies that may be of particular interest to reporters are briefly summarized below and are categorized in three main research areas:

• key prevention strategies
• testing and engagement in care
• risk behavior/key population trends

Key Prevention Strategies

What are characteristics of men who have sex with men who are interested in, but not on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in the United States? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Overview: Researchers engaged in a systematic review of U.S.-based studies published between 2000-2019 that reported factors correlated with interest in using PrEP among MSM who are not using PrEP. The study found that MSM who were aware of the potential benefits of PrEP, were diagnosed with an STD, used substances, engaged in high-risk sexual behavior, or perceived themselves to be at high risk of HIV were significantly more likely to be interested in PrEP.

Lead Author: Emiko Kamitani, CDC

California Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Assistance Program: Lessons learned during an initial expansion of services
Overview: The study found that the California PrEP Assistance Program, which seeks to remove financial and structural barriers to PrEP access in the state, contributed to an expansion in PrEP access from April 2018-November 2019 but that cisgender women, young people (ages 18-24), African Americans, and people residing in the Central Valley are under-enrolled.

Lead Author: Philip J. Peters, CDC

Testing and Engagement in Care

Testing preferences and characteristics of those who have never tested for HIV in the United States
Overview: The study found that two-thirds of respondents in a nationally representative survey reported having never been tested for HIV despite more than 75% of never-testers having reported seeing a primary care physician (PCP) in the last year. Additionally, more than half (53%) of never-testers said they would prefer to be tested for HIV during a routine visit with their PCP; 12% would prefer testing at an urgent care clinic; and 18% would prefer self-testing.

Lead Author: Shilpa Patel, CDC

Facilitators of routine HIV screening among primary care physicians results from an online panel of U.S. healthcare providers
Overview: An online survey of 1,000 PCPs found that only half were aware that CDC recommends HIV screening for all patients ages 13-64, and only 40% reported that they routinely screen all their patients for HIV. Among PCPs who do not practice routine screening, the most commonly endorsed resource to help them increase screening was an integrated laboratory panel that incorporates testing for HIV, STDs, and HCV (52%).

Lead Author: Marc Pitasi, CDC

Racial/ethnical disparities in HCV testing among MSM in HIV care
Overview: Analyzing medical records data from MSM in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) who received HIV care at nine HIV clinics between 2011-2018, the study found that HCV testing rates among MSM with HIV were low among all races/ethnicities. This was despite guidelines recommending sexually active MSM with HIV be tested for HCV at least annually depending on the presence of high-risk sexual or drug use practices.

Lead Author: Jun Li, CDC

Risk Behavior/Key Population Trends

Trends in HIV risk behavior and care outcomes among Hispanic/Latino MSM in the United States: A systematic review of national surveillance data
Overview: A systematic review of published data from 2011-17 to examine trends in HIV risk behavior and care outcomes among Hispanic/Latino MSM found that, when compared to white MSM, a higher percentage of Latino MSM reported engaging in sex without a condom and not taking PrEP, and a lower percentage were aware of their HIV-positive status.

Lead Author: Nicole Crepaz, CDC

High levels of receptive sharing and HIV among young PWID with HCV from 10 U.S. cities-implications for HIV elimination efforts
Overview: To examine factors associated with HCV among young people who inject drugs (PWID), this National Behavioral HIV Surveillance System (NHBS) study conducted interviews with and offered HCV/HIV testing to PWID in 10 cities. The study found that HCV infection was associated with HIV and high-risk injection behaviors, and that young PWID who visit syringe services programs (SSPs) were more likely to have HCV, indicating SSPs may be reaching higher-risk populations as intended.

Lead Author: Janet Burnett, CDC

The HIV Outpatient Study – improvements in health outcomes in people living with HIV, the United States, 1993-2017
Overview: Researchers analyzed data from 14 public and private HOPS clinics, finding that the mortality rate among people with HIV fell from 121 to 16 per 1,000 person-years from 1994 to 2017, and that the median age at death was 39 years in 1994 versus 54 years in 2017.

Lead Author: Kate Buchacz, CDC

NOTE: Tomorrow, July 7, 2020, at 2:00 PM (ET) CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin will participate in a Live with Leadership Conversation at the U.S government’s AIDS 2020: Virtual exhibit booth at www.HIVHistory.orgExit Disclaimer. The focus will be on current and planned activities to further the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.