Rural-urban differences in HIV viral loads and progression to AIDS among new HIV cases

The human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in the United States has shifted to the South, where an increasing proportion is occurring in rural areas. We sought to gain a better understanding of the affected rural population in this region. Methods: The statewide HIV/AIDS Electronic Reporting System database was used to examine the epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed HIV cases in South Carolina from 2005 to 2011. RuralYurban differences were examined in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including progression to AIDS and a decline in HIV viral load (VL) to undetectable levels within 1 year of diagnosis. Results: Of the 5336 individuals newly diagnosed as having HIV, 1433 (26.9%) were from rural areas. Compared with urban residents, a higher proportion of rural residents were black, non-Hispanic (80.1% vs 68.5%; P e 0.0001) and reported heterosexual risk (28.8% vs 22.9%; P = 0.0007). The proportion of female patients was higher in rural areas (29.7% vs 26.4%; P = 0.016). No significant ruralYurban differences were found in initial CD4+ T-cell and VL counts or proportion obtaining an undetectable VL at 1 year. Rural residents were significantly more likely than urban residents to have AIDS at diagnosis or within 1 year of the HIV diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio 1.15; 95% confidence interval 1.007Y1.326). Conclusions: The reasons behind differences in proportions of rural and urban residents who were diagnosed as having AIDS or progressed to AIDS despite similar initial CD4⁺ T-cell counts and VL suppression at 1 year are unclear and should be explored in future studies. Future prevention and treatment efforts may need to consider the unique characteristics of rural populations in the South.