I thought this video update from CROI was worth re-posting here. The data that they talked about has to do with the relationship between missed clinical appointments and health outcomes. What was interesting is that the study was done by Kaiser-Permanente, so the population with HIV had health care. For patients who missed visits in the first year after their diagnosis, there was a two-fold increase in mortality. Missing a visit had a greater impact than having a CD4 count under 100.
As we move into the era of "Test and Treat," we need to stay focused on everything necessary to keep people in care. What they refer to in the video as the treatment cascade is essentially this:
Not everyone who tests positive gets enrolled in care, and of those enrolled, some aren't getting lab work done. In the old guidelines for treatment, providers often waited until CD4 counts dropped, so some weren't eligible for anti-retroviral therapy. Another barrier not shown is that doctors are often reluctant to offer HIV medications to people who are dealing with untreated mental health issues, housing problems, and illegal drug use. Then there are issues around people sticking to their regimen through the fist bumpy weeks of immune reconstitution and short-term side effects. Then there are the issues that can arise in anyone's life--loosing a job or health insurance, personal problems, and more that can play havoc with adherence. We'll need to look at all these issues, identify barriers, and find ways to overcome them if we expect the pills to do their work.
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