Monitoring HIV Care Entry in San Francisco
Author Information
Author(s): Zetola Nicola M, Bernstein Kyle, Ahrens Katherine, Marcus Julia L, Philip Susan, Nieri Giuliano, Jones Diane, Hare C Bradley, Hsu Ling, Scheer Susan, Klausner Jeffrey D
Primary Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Hypothesis
Can routine monitoring of CD4 T cell counts and plasma HIV viral load improve the understanding of entry into care for newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals?
Conclusion
Routine monitoring of CD4 T cell counts and plasma HIV viral load can significantly enhance the identification of individuals entering HIV medical care after diagnosis.
Supporting Evidence
- Routine surveillance methods identified 101 cases entering care.
- Monitoring increased confirmed entries into care by 25%.
- Being interviewed by a public health investigator significantly increased the odds of entering care.
Takeaway
This study shows that checking blood tests can help health workers see if people with HIV are getting the care they need after being diagnosed.
Methodology
The study involved monitoring initial primary care visits and collecting data from patients, medical providers, and laboratories to assess entry into care.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include social desirability and recall bias from patient and provider reports.
Limitations
The study excluded patients with tests on the same day as diagnosis, which may have omitted some individuals linked to care.
Participant Demographics
Of the 160 participants, 95% were men or male-to-female transgender, with a median age of 35 years; 48% were white, 25% Hispanic, and 19% African-American.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = .001
Confidence Interval
OR 18.86 [1.83–194.80]
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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