Only 19% of HIV Infected in US have Adequately Treated Virus

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Here’s something that caught my attention:

“We estimate that only 19% of HIV-infected individuals in  the US have an undetectable HIV load.” from an article by Gardner, et al in Clinical Infectious Disease 2011;52:793-800.

Gardner and his group discuss the spectrum of engagement of HIV Care in the United States, and it is dismal.

About 1.1 million adults and adolescents were living with HIV in the US in 2006.  Of these, an estimated 21% are unaware of their HIV infection.  They have a higher risk of transmitting the infection to others.

Another 25% of HIV infected people do not receive care within 6-12 months of their diagnosis.   This presents more opportunities to transmit the virus and become  ill.

Only 50% of  known HIV-infected people are receiving regular care for their infection.

They estimate that 80% of in-care HIV-infected people in the US should be receiving HIV medications, but 25% of these are not receiving therapy.

If you are on HIV medications, all is good, right?  Not necessarily.  People stop their medications for many reasons, such as cost, stigma, mental illness, or substance use.   Even with newer, more potent HIV medications, 20-40% do not take enough of their medication to get their virus to low levels of detection.

Obviously we need to do more in the US to get people tested for HIV, get them into care, keep them in care, get them on medications, and keep them on medications.

I usually help people at that final step:  Keeping them on medications.

If you know someone who has dropped out of care or who is missing too many doses, please encourage them to get help from their doctor, pharmacist, nurse, case manager, or therapist.