Background: Public health information exchanges (HIEs) link real-time surveillance and clinical data and can help to re-engage out-of-care people with HIV (PWH). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of out-of-care PWH who generated an HIE alert in the Grady Health System (GHS) Emergency Department (ED) between January 2017 and February 2018. Alerts were generated for PWH who registered in the GHS ED without Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) CD4 or HIV-1 RNA in the prior 14 months. The alert triggered a social work (SW)–led re-linkage effort. Multivariate logistic regression analyses used HIE-informed SW re-linkage efforts as the independent variable, and linkage to care and 3- and 6-month viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA < 200 c/mL) as primary outcomes. Patients admitted to the hospital were excluded from primary analysis. Results: One hundred forty-seven out-of-care patients generated an alert. Ninety-eight were included in the primary analysis (mean age [SD], 41 ± 12 years; 70% male; 93% African American), and 20 received the HIE-informed SW intervention. Sixty percent of patients receiving the intervention linked to care in 6 months, compared with 35% who did not. Patients receiving the intervention were more likely to link to care (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99–2.68) and no more likely to achieve viral suppression (aRR, 1.49; 95% CI, 0.50–4.46) than those who did not receive the intervention. Conclusions: An HIE-informed, SW-led intervention systematically identified out-of-care PWH and may increase linkage to care for this important population. HIEs create an opportunity to intervene with linkage and retention strategies.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data describing the presenting characteristics and outcomes among US persons with HIV (PWH) requiring hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: We performed a case series of all PWH sequentially admitted with COVID-19 from 8 March 2020 to 23 April 2020 at three hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia. Sociodemographic, clinical and HIV-associated characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Of 530 confirmed COVID-19 cases hospitalized during this period, 20 occurred among PWH (3.8%). The median age was 57 (Q1-Q3, 48-62) years, 65% were men, and 85% were non-Hispanic Black. Presenting median symptom duration was 5 (Q1-Q3, 3-7) days; cough (90%), fever (65%), malaise (60%) and dyspnea (60%) were most common. On admission, 40% of patients required oxygenation support and 65% had an abnormal chest radiograph. Median length of hospitalization was 5 (Q1-Q3, 4-12) days, 30% required intensive care, 15% required intubation, and 15% died. Median CD4 cell count prior to admission was 425 (Q1-Q3, 262-815) cells/μl and 90% of patients had HIV-1 RNA less than 200 copies/ml. Half of the patients had at least five comorbidities; hypertension (70%), dyslipidemia (60%) and diabetes (45%) were most prevalent. All three patients who died had CD4 cell count more than 200, HIV suppression and each had a total of five comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The multisite series in the Southern United States provides characteristics and early outcomes of hospitalized PWH with COVID-19. Nearly all patients had controlled HIV and a high comorbidity burden. Additional study of COVID-19 among PWH is needed to determine the role of age, comorbidities and HIV control in mediating COVID-19 presentation and its sequelae.

Background: Gains in life expectancy through optimal control of HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be threatened if other comorbidities, such as diabetes, are not optimally managed. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data of the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) from 2001, 2006, and 2015. We estimated the proportions of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women with diabetes who were engaged in care and achieved treatment goals (hemoglobin A1c [A1c] <7.0%, blood pressure [BP] <140/90 mmHg, low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol <100 mg/dL, not smoking) and viral suppression. Repeated-measures models were used to estimate the adjusted prevalence of achieving each diabetes treatment goal at each time point, by HIV status. Results: We included 486 HIV-positive and 258 HIV-negative women with diabetes. In 2001, 91.8% visited a health care provider, 60.7% achieved the A1c target, 70.5% achieved the BP target, 38.5% achieved the LDL cholesterol target, 49.2% were nonsmokers, 23.3% achieved combined ABC targets (A1c, BP, and cholesterol), and 10.9% met combined ABC targets and did not smoke. There were no differences by HIV status, and patterns were similar in 2006 and 2015. Among HIV-positive women, viral suppression increased from 41% in 2001 to 87% in 2015 compared with 8% and 13% achieving the ABC goals and not smoking. Viral suppression was not associated with achievement of diabetes care goals. Conclusions: Successful management of HIV is outpacing that of diabetes. Future studies are needed to identify factors associated with gaps in the HIV-diabetes care continuum and design interventions to better integrate effective diabetes management into HIV care.

Objective: This mixed-methods needs assessment study examined self-care practices among providers, staff, and administrators at an HIV clinic and identified barriers and facilitators to strengthening self-care services in this setting. Methods: Surveys (n = 31) and qualitative interviews (n = 23) were conducted with staff, providers, and administrators at a large, safety-net HIV clinic. Results: Surveys indicated an overall absence of formal self-care services including resources to manage stress, opportunities to debrief, and formal mechanisms to voice concerns. Based on interviews with staff and providers, deficiencies in self-care services included support for dealing with complex patients, formal mechanisms for feedback, and time for self-care. Administrators recognized the need for more support, acknowledged that opportunities for employees to voice concerns were lacking, and felt that implementing multi-disciplinary team meetings could improve morale and reduce stress and burnout. Conclusion: This assessment revealed a need to enhance self-care in safety-net HIV services. Adoption of trauma-informed care, which includes activities to strengthen self-care, could reduce workplace burnout.

Prompt antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after AIDS diagnosis, in the absence of certain opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis, delays disease progression and death, but system barriers to inpatient ART initiation at large hospitals in the era of modern ART have been less studied. We reviewed hospitalizations for persons newly diagnosed with AIDS at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia in 2011 and 2012. Individual- and system-level variables were collected. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for ART initiation prior to discharge. With Georgia Department of Health surveillance data, we estimated time to first clinic visit, ART initiation, and viral suppression. In the study population (n = 81), ART was initiated prior to discharge in 10 (12%) patients. Shorter hospital stay was significantly associated with lack of ART initiation at the time of HIV diagnosis (8 versus 24 days, OR: 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.25). Reducing barriers to ART initiation for newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients with short hospital stays may improve time to viral suppression.

Background: Specialty pharmacy (SP) provides timely medication delivery to patients and seeks to improve patient adherence through monthly pharmacist medication therapy management (MTM). Patients living with HIV/AIDS have both high cost medications and complex disease states and thus will benefit from SP. We report on the outcome of HIV therapy after 3 years of a pilot SP ina southern inner city RW funded clinic. Methods: This is a single center retrospective chart review of patients at our clinic who were enrolled in the SP from 6/3/13–5/1/16 for at least 6 months. Baseline demographic characteristics and HIV markers (CD4, viral load) were collected. Outcomes of interest were: change in CD4 count, percent with viral suppression (VS), emergency room (ER) and hospital admission usage, as well as percent of scheduled providers’ appointment kept. Each individual had the same follow up time before and after SP initiation. Bivariate analysis compared outcomes preSP and during SP using Chi-square or Fisher exact tests for categorical and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. Results: During the 3-year period, there were 212 individuals referred to SP, of which 170 participated in the program. There were 92(54%) men, 136(80%) black. The median age was 48.3 years (IQR: 28.5–56.3). The average duration of follow up pre and during SP was 22.1(IQR: 16.5–27) months. In terms of insurance, 69(40%) had Medicare, 22(13%) had Medicaid, 22(13%) had private insurance, 54(32%) received AIDS drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and 3(2%) had Ryan White. Patients resided an average distance from the clinic of 17.4(IQR: 8.8–25) miles. The respective outcomes before and during SP were: CD4: 350(IQR: 181–551) vs. 413(IQR: 263–611 cells/mL (P < 0.0001), VS in 78 ± 30% vs. 91 ± 20% (P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with emergency room usage or hospital admissions was 68(40%) vs. 49(29%) (P = 0.036). There was no difference in the rate of kept providers’ appointment (66.6 %(IQR: 53.8–78.6%) vs. 63.8 %(50-77%) (P = 0.19). There was no reported death during the follow –up period. Conclusion: This pilot SP program at the RW clinic showed statistically significant improvement of CD4 count and VS, as well as 40 % decrease in odds of using ER or hospital admission. Further studies are needed to determine whether SP is beneficial to people living with HIV/AIDS in other settings.

Background: Rapid entry programs (REPs) improve time to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (TAI) and time to viral suppression (TVS). We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a REP in a large HIV clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, serving a predominately un- or underinsured population. Methods: The Rapid Entry and ART in Clinic for HIV (REACH) program was implemented on May 16, 2016. We performed a retrospective cohort study with the main independent variable being period of enrollment: January 1, 2016, through May 15, 2016 (pre-REACH); May 16, 2016, through July 31, 2016 (post-REACH). Included individuals were HIV-infected and new to the clinic with detectable HIV-1 RNA. Six-month follow-up data were collected for each participant. Survival analyses were conducted for TVS. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate secondary outcomes: attendance at first clinic visit, viral suppression, TAI, and time to first attended provider visit. Results: There were 117 pre-REACH and 90 post-REACH individuals. Median age (interquartile range [IQR]) was 35 (25-45) years, 80% were male, 91% black, 60% men who have sex with men, 57% uninsured, and 44% active substance users. TVS decreased from 77 (62-96) to 57 (41-70) days (P < .0022). Time to first attended provider visit decreased from 17 to 5 days, and TAI from 21 to 7 days (P < .0001), each remaining significant in adjusted models. Conclusions: This is the largest rapid entry cohort described in the United States and suggests that rapid entry is feasible and could have a positive impact on HIV transmission at the population level.