Background: Older people with human immunodeficiency virus -HIV (OPWH) defined as 50 years old account for a growing proportion of newly diagnosed infections in Ukraine (16% in 2018), but the prevalence of substance use disorder among OPWH in Ukraine remains unknown. Ukraine responded to the Covid-19 pandemic with a comprehensive lockdown in late March 2020. Objectives: We conducted a phone survey among 123 OPWH with substance use disorders (SUD) in Kyiv in May 2020 to learn if these older adults may continue HIV and SUD therapy while coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. Results: Data from the survey demonstrated that while OPWH with SUD maintained HIV and SUD therapy throughout Covid-19 lockdown, social support is critical to avoiding treatment interruption for OPWH with SUD. Conclusions/Importance: During reopening, reduction of support may lead to OPWH feeling even more isolated. Post-Covid-19 pharmacological approaches to SUD treatment without social support are like vehicles without gas. The research agenda for OPWH patients with SUD going forward must include determining the type of telehealth support that will be optimally effective to retain OPWH including people who inject drugs (PWID), provision of support by lay health workers, and cost-effectiveness of such interventions. The lessons learned may be relevant to other countries as well.
Background Ukraine has the second largest HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Older People with HIV (OPWH) are at increased risk of poor outcomes compared to younger patients. We examined the prevalence and correlates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among newly diagnosed patients in Ukraine. Methods Retrospective chart review was conducted of 400 patients newly diagnosed with HIV July 1, 2017 - Dec 1, 2018. Data was collected from clinics in the city of Odessa and surrounding regions. OPWH were ≥50 years old at diagnosis and LTFU was defined as no contact with the HIV clinic for 90 days. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and follow-up outcomes were examined, and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Results Of the 400 people living with HIV, median age was 50 (IQR35-55), 196 (49%) were women, and 177 (44%) had CD4< 200cell/mm3 at diagnosis. Overall, 65 (16.5%) were LTFU from diagnosis and 54/65 (83%) were lost after their first appointment at the HIV clinic. Among those lost to follow-up, 49 (75%) were ≥50 at the time of diagnosis. Multivariate analysis showed LTFU was associated with age >50years (aOR 3.6, CI 1.8-7.3, p=0.001), lack of ART prescription (aOR 16.4, CI 8.5-31.8, p= 0.001), and living outside the city of Odessa (aOR 2.9, CI 1.5-5.7, p=0.002). Figure 1 shows the breakdown of lost to follow-up for OPWH. Figure 1. Retainment in HIV Care for OPWH compared to those <50 years old. Conclusion LTFU among OPWH is significantly greater than younger people with HIV, and associated with lack of ART and living in nonurban settings. OPWH may benefit from differentiated HIV service delivery to reduce loss to follow up and interventions tailored to improving HIV outcomes for OPWH in resource-limited settings are urgently needed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
Introduction The Eastern Europe and Central Asian (EECA) region has the highest increase in HIV incidence and mortality globally, with suboptimal HIV treatment and prevention. All EECA countries (except Russia) are low and middle-income (LMIC). While LMIC are home to 80% of all older people living with HIV (OPWH), defined as ≥50 years, extant literature observed that newly diagnosed OPWH represent the lowest proportion in EECA relative to all other global regions. We examined HIV diagnoses in OPWH in Ukraine, a country emblematic of the EECA region. Methods We analysed incident HIV diagnoses from 2015–2018 and mortality trends from 2016–2018 for three age groups: 1) 15–24 years; 2) 25–49 years; and 3) ≥50 years. AIDS was defined as CD4<200cells/mL. Mortality was defined as deaths per 1000 patients newly diagnosed with HIV within the same calendar year. Mortality rates were calculated for 2016, 2017, and 2018, compared to age-matched general population rates, and all-cause standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated. Results From 2015–2018, the proportion of OPWH annually diagnosed with HIV increased from 11.2% to 14.9% (p<0.01). At the time of diagnosis, OPWH were also significantly (p<0.01) more likely to have AIDS (43.8%) than those aged 25–49 years (29.5%) and 15–24 years (13.3%). Newly diagnosed OPWH had the same-year mortality ranging from 3 to 8 times higher than age-matched groups in the Ukrainian general population. Conclusions These findings suggest a reassessment of HIV testing, prevention and treatment strategies in Ukraine is needed to bring OPWH into focus. OPWH are more likely to present with late-stage HIV and have higher mortality rates. Re-designing testing practices is especially crucial since OPWH are absent from targeted testing programs and are increasingly diagnosed as they present with AIDS-defining symptoms. New strategies for linkage and treatment programs should reflect the distinct needs of this target population.
Low- and middle-income countries are home to 80% of older people with HIV (OPWH). Ukrainian OPWH experience higher mortality and decreased antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation than younger patients, but there is little data examining OPWH’s perspectives around new diagnosis and impact on care. In this study, we examined accounts of 30 newly diagnosed OPWH in Ukraine, exploring challenges faced in the peri-diagnosis period. Themes emerged representing the longitudinal coping process: OPWH (1) viewed themselves as low risk before diagnosis; (2) experienced HIV diagnosis as a traumatic event challenging their self-image; (3) used disclosure to seek support among a small circle of family, friends, or health care providers; (4) avoided disclosure to outsiders including primary care providers for fears of stigma and breaches in confidentiality; (5) viewed age as an asset; and (6) used HIV diagnosis as starting point for growth. These findings highlight the need for age-specific programming to increase HIV knowledge and coping, increase screening, and improve long-term planning.
Background Ukraine has a high burden of HIV, with only 52% of people living with HIV receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) despite test and treat policies and free medications. An underrecognized but significantly increasing proportion of older people with HIV (OPWH) contribute 15% of new HIV diagnoses and demonstrate increased mortality compared to the age-matched general population. To assess the impact of age on HIV treatment outcomes, we examined correlates of ART initiation among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Ukraine. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of 400 patients newly diagnosed with HIV between July 1, 2017- Dec 1, 2018 in Odessa, Ukraine. OPWH were defined as those ≥50 years old at the time of diagnosis, while ART initiation was defined as prescription and dispensing of medication. Outcomes were censored 6 months from diagnosis. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and ART outcomes were examined and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate correlates of ART initiation with adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Results Of the 400 included patients, 198 (49.5%) were < 50 years old and 202 (50.5%) were ≥ 50 years old at the time of diagnosis. Patients ≥50 years old were more likely to have a lower CD4 count (median 148 (IQR 60-316) vs 295 (IQR 111-478), p=0.001). Correlates of ART initiation included age less than 50 and history of opportunistic infection within 12 months of diagnosis. After controlling for opportunistic infection history, OPWH were 51% less likely to receive ART than those < 50 years old at the time of diagnosis (AOR 0.496, CI 0.301-0.816, p=0.006). Conclusion OPWH exhibit an ART gap associated with advanced disease at presentation compared to younger individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. This is the first clinical data examining OPWH in Ukraine. Interventions to improve linkage to care for OPWH are urgently needed in a population already at increased risk for HIV related mortality. The results of this study emphasize the need for further studies to examine patient and systemic causes of decreased ART initiation among Ukrainian OPWH. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.