TY - JOUR
T1 - The South Carolina HIV Cascade of Care
AU - Edun, Babatunde
AU - Iyer, Medha
AU - Albrecht, Helmut
AU - Weissman, Sharon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 by The Southern Medical Association.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Objectives In recent years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cascade of care describing the spectrum of engagement in HIV care from diagnosis to virologic suppression has been used widely in determining the progress and success in public health efforts to control the HIV epidemic. For more than a decade South Carolina consistently ranked among the top10 states in the United States with the highest acquired immunodeficiency syndrome case rates, suggesting late diagnoses and issues with retention in care. The primary objective of this study was to develop an HIV cascade of care for the state that may help identify opportunities for appropriate future interventions. Methods The South Carolina Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System database was used to develop the HIV cascade of care indicating the percentages of the diagnosed individuals who were linked to care, received any care, were retained in care, and achieved virologic suppression using standardized metrics recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sample included all individuals in South Carolina who were diagnosed as having HIV by December 31, 2011 and who were alive at the end of 2012. Results Of the 14,523 South Carolinians living with HIV at the end of 2012, 64% had received any HIV care, 53% were retained in care, and 48% were virologically suppressed during 2012. Conclusions This is the first HIV cascade of care model for South Carolina. Efforts are needed to improve public health initiatives to link, engage, and retain individuals with HIV in care.
AB - Objectives In recent years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cascade of care describing the spectrum of engagement in HIV care from diagnosis to virologic suppression has been used widely in determining the progress and success in public health efforts to control the HIV epidemic. For more than a decade South Carolina consistently ranked among the top10 states in the United States with the highest acquired immunodeficiency syndrome case rates, suggesting late diagnoses and issues with retention in care. The primary objective of this study was to develop an HIV cascade of care for the state that may help identify opportunities for appropriate future interventions. Methods The South Carolina Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System database was used to develop the HIV cascade of care indicating the percentages of the diagnosed individuals who were linked to care, received any care, were retained in care, and achieved virologic suppression using standardized metrics recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sample included all individuals in South Carolina who were diagnosed as having HIV by December 31, 2011 and who were alive at the end of 2012. Results Of the 14,523 South Carolinians living with HIV at the end of 2012, 64% had received any HIV care, 53% were retained in care, and 48% were virologically suppressed during 2012. Conclusions This is the first HIV cascade of care model for South Carolina. Efforts are needed to improve public health initiatives to link, engage, and retain individuals with HIV in care.
KW - HIV
KW - South Carolina
KW - cascade
KW - continuum
KW - individuals living with HIV
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U2 - 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000368
DO - 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000368
M3 - Article
C2 - 26539946
AN - SCOPUS:84946067367
SN - 0038-4348
VL - 108
SP - 670
EP - 674
JO - Southern medical journal
JF - Southern medical journal
IS - 11
ER -