Publications by authors named "Carl Armon"

This article aimed at analyzing the acute impact and the longer-term recovery of COVID-19 pandemic effects on clinical encounter types, HIV viral load (VL) testing, and suppression (HIV VL < 200 copies/mL). This study was a longitudinal cohort study of participants seen during 2019-2022 at nine HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) sites. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) estimated monthly rates of all encounters, office and telemedicine visits, and HIV VL tests using 2010-2022 data.

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The ILAE task force has identified a gap in treatment access for patients with nonepileptic seizures (NES) [1]. Access to multidisciplinary treatment clinics for adults with NES is limited with only 18 institutions delivering care across the United States [2]. Patient engagement has been low in the University of Colorado, NES Clinic treatment program despite our clinic's status as the only clinic of its kind in the mountain west.

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Attention to non-AIDS comorbidities is increasingly important in the HIV care and management in the United States. We sought to assess comorbidities before and after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among persons with HIV (PWH). Using the 2008-2018 HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) data, we assessed changes in prevalence of physical and psychiatric comorbidities, by sex, among participants initiating ART.

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During 2007-2019, the percentage of HIV Outpatient Study participants reporting anal or vaginal condomless sex in the past 6 months ranged from a low of 17% among heterosexual males to 59% for men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM reported having had condomless sex more frequently than heterosexual males and females and were the only group in which an increase in condomless sex was observed during the study period (from 39 to 59%). Although persons with undetectable HIV viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV sexually (U = U), there is still the potential risk of transmission or acquisition of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when engaging in condomless sex.

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Background: Age blunts CD4+ lymphocyte cell count/μl (CD4+) improvements observed with antiretroviral therapy (ART)-induced viral suppression among people with HIV (PWH). Prolonged viral suppression reduces immune dysregulation, reflected by rising CD4+/CD8+ ratios (CD4+/CD8+). We studied CD4+/CD8+ over time to determine whether it predicts risk for select comorbidities and mortality among aging PWH with viral suppression.

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Background: Emergency department and urgent care (ED/UC) visits for common conditions can be more expensive with less continuity than office care provided by primary care physicians.

Methods: We used quality-improvement methods to enhance telephone triage for pediatric patients by adding additional "Phone First" services including: 1) enhanced office-hours telephone triage and advice with available same-day appointments, 2) follow-up calls to parents of children self-referred to an ED/UC, and 3) parent education to telephone the office for advice prior to seeking acute care. We hypothesized that enhanced office services would reduce ED/UC utilization and cost.

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Unlabelled: We evaluated the association of bone fracture with mortality among persons with HIV, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors. Incident fracture was associated with 48% greater risk of all-cause mortality, underscoring the need for bone mineral density screening and fracture prevention.

Purpose/introduction: Low bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture are more common among persons with HIV (PWH) than those without HIV infection.

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The aim of this study was to identify viral exposure (VE) measures and their relationship to mortality risk among persons with HIV.Prospective multicenter observational study to compare VE formulae.Eligible participants initiated first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) between March 1, 1995 and June 30, 2015.

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Background: National guidelines recommend that sexually active people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) who are men who have sex with men (MSM) be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at least annually. Hepatitis C virus testing rates vary by race/ethnicity in the general population, but limited data are available for PWH.

Methods: We analyzed medical records data from MSM in the HIV Outpatient Study at 9 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2019.

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Background: The clinical epidemiology of treated HIV infection in the United States has dramatically changed in the past 25 years. Few sources of longitudinal data exist for people with HIV (PWH) spanning that period. Cohort data enable investigating new exposure and disease associations and monitoring progress along the HIV care continuum.

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Objective: To understand the epidemiology of non-AIDS-related chronic comorbidities (NACMs) among aging persons with HIV (PWH).

Design: Prospective multicenter observational study to assess, in an age-stratified fashion, number and types of NACMs by demographic and HIV factors.

Methods: Eligible participants were seen during 1 January 1997 to 30 June 2015, followed for more than 5 years, received antiretroviral therapy (ART), and virally suppressed (HIV viral load <200 copies/ml ≥75% of observation time).

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Background: Although chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) infections are increasing in the United States, there are limited data on their incidence, testing rates, and associated risk factors among persons living with HIV (PLWH), including by anatomic site among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: We analyzed 2007-2017 medical records data from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Outpatient Study (HOPS) participants in care at 9 HIV clinics. We calculated CT (and GC) incidence and testing rates and assessed associations with sociodemographic and clinical factors using log-linear regression.

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Objective: To evaluate sleep disturbances in a diverse, contemporary HIV-positive patient cohort and to identify demographic, clinical, and immune correlates.

Methods: A convenience sample of 176 patients from a racially and ethnically diverse HIV-positive patient cohort in an urban population. This was a cross-sectional, epidemiologic study.

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We assessed disparities in viral suppression (VS) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among women of the HIV Outpatient Study to inform HIV treatment strategies. We used adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess VS by race/ethnicity and generalized estimating equations to investigate factors associated with not achieving VS and ART non-adherence. Among 426 women (median age = 46 years), at baseline, VS was less prevalent among black women (63%) compared with Hispanic women/Latinas (73%) and white women (78%).

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Objective: Sexual HIV transmission is more likely to occur when plasma HIV RNA level (viral load) exceeds 1500 copies/ml. We assessed the percentage of person-time spent with viral load above 1500 copies/ml (pPT >1500) among adults with HIV in care.

Design: Observational cohort in eight United States HIV clinics.

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Background: Since 2000, the incidence of syphilis has been increasing, especially among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. We assessed temporal trends and associated risk factors for newly diagnosed syphilis infections among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients during a 16-year period.

Methods: We analyzed data from the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) cohort participants at 10 US HIV clinics during 1999-2015.

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Objective: To examine HIV viral suppression during/after pregnancy.

Design: Prospective observational cohort.

Methods: We identified pregnancies from 1996 to 2015.

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Maximizing the rates of virologic suppression (VS) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) is essential to limiting HIV morbidity and sexual transmission of HIV in the United States. We analyzed data for MSM of non-Hispanic white (white), non-Hispanic black (black), or Hispanic/Latino race/ethnicity in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) at nine U.S.

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In the United States, women accounted for 19% of new HIV diagnoses in 2015 and were less likely to reach virologic suppression when compared to men. We assessed trends and disparities in virologic suppression among HIV-positive women to inform HIV treatment strategies. Data were from a prospective cohort of the HIV Outpatient Study and collected at nine United States HIV clinics.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the rates of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among HIV-positive patients in the U.S. from 2000 to 2013 through the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS), focusing on individuals with prior negative HCV antibody tests.
  • A total of 1941 patients were analyzed, leading to a reported incidence of 5.3% for new HCV infections, with the rates declining over time, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID) and heterosexuals, but not among men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • The study highlights the need for annual HCV screenings for HIV patients, especially for those at risk, to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of co-infections
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Background:  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools are often applied to populations beyond those in which they were designed when validated tools for specific subpopulations are unavailable.

Methods:  Using data from 2283 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults aged ≥18 years, who were active in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS), we assessed performance of 3 commonly used CVD prediction models developed for general populations: Framingham general cardiovascular Risk Score (FRS), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Pooled Cohort equations (PCEs), and Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) high-risk equation, and 1 model developed in HIV-infected persons: the Data Collection on Adverse Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study equation. C-statistics assessed model discrimination and the ratio of expected to observed events (E/O) and Hosmer-Lemeshow χ P value assessed calibration.

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The live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has generally been more efficacious than the inactivated vaccine in children. However, LAIV is not recommended for HIV-infected children because of insufficient data. We compared cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses to the 2013-2014 LAIV quadrivalent (LAIV4) in HIV-infected and uninfected children 2-25 years of age (yoa).

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