Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore non-HIV-related health care service (NHRHS) utilization, demographic, clinical and laboratory factors associated with timely initial "retention" in HIV care among individuals "linked" to HIV care in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

Methods: We conducted a Weibull time-to-initial-retention analysis among BC Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) cohort participants linked in 2000-2010, who had ≥ 1 year of follow-up. We defined "linked" as the first HIV-related service accessed following HIV diagnosis and "retained" as having, within a calendar year, either: (i) at least two HIV-related physician visits/diagnostic tests or (ii) at least two antiretroviral therapy (ART) dispensations, ≥ 3 months apart. Individuals were followed until they were retained, died, their last contact date, or until 31 December 2011, whichever occurred first.

Results: Of 5231 linked individuals (78% male; median age 39: (Q1-Q3: 32-46) years], 4691 (90%) were retained [median time to initial retention of 9 (Q1-Q3: 5-13) months] by the end of follow-up and 540 (10%) were not. Eighty-four per cent of not retained and 96% of retained individuals used at least one type of NHRHS during follow-up. Individuals who saw a specialist for NHRHS during follow-up had a shorter time to initial retention than those who did not [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.79; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.47-3.16]. However, those who saw a general practitioner (GP) for NHRHS (aHR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.74-0.84) and those admitted to the hospital for NHRHS (aHR 0.60; 95% CI: 0.54-0.67), versus those who did/were not, respectively, had longer times to initial retention, as did female patients, people who inject drugs (PWID) and individuals < 40 years old.

Conclusions: Overall, 84% of not retained individuals used some type of NHRHS during follow-up. Given that 71% of not retained individuals used GP NHRHS, our results suggest that GP-targeted interventions may be effective in improving time to initial retention.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691354PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hiv.12297DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

initial retention
20
time initial
16
hiv care
16
retained individuals
12
nhrhs follow-up
12
individuals
9
non-hiv-related health
8
health care
8
utilization demographic
8
demographic clinical
8

Similar Publications

Brain drain in Emergency Medicine in Lebanon, building locally and exporting globally.

BMC Med Educ

January 2025

Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O.Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.

Objective: Despite the growth of Emergency Medicine (EM) globally, shortages of EM-trained physicians persist in many countries, disproportionately affecting lower middle/low-income countries (LMIC/LIC). This study examines the career paths of graduates of an Emergency Medicine residency-training program established in Lebanon with the aim of building local capacity in EM.

Design And Patients: This descriptive study utilizes secondary data sourced from an alumni database that includes nine cohorts of graduates from an Emergency Medicine residency program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims/hypothesis: Within the small intestine, neutrophils play an integral role in preventing bacterial infection. Upon interaction with bacteria or bacteria-derived antigens, neutrophils initiate a multi-staged response of which the terminal stage is NETosis, formation of protease-decorated nuclear DNA into extracellular traps. NETosis has a great propensity to elicit ocular damage and has been associated with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema (DME) progression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

LiFeMnPO (0 < < 1) has a high operating voltage range and theoretical energy density, but its actual capacity decreased due to its low electronic conductivity. To overcome this problem, we successfully prepared LiFeMnPO/C (LFMP/C) with a uniform carbon coating by a one-step solvothermal method using bamboo shavings as the carbon source. The results showed that heating at a reaction temperature of 180 °C for 18 h was the optimal synthesis condition to obtain LFMP/C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Childhood cancer is not a high priority in health care financing for many countries, including in Ghana. Delayed care seeking and treatment abandonment, often due to the financial burden of care seeking to families, are common reasons for a relatively low overall survival (OS) in low-and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of extending health insurance coverage to children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Ghana.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Data-driven exploration of weak coordination microenvironment in solid-state electrolyte for safe and energy-dense batteries.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute & Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China.

The unsatisfactory ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes hinders their practical use as substitutes for liquid electrolytes to address safety concerns. Although various plasticizers have been introduced to improve lithium-ion conduction kinetics, the lack of microenvironment understanding impedes the rational design of high-performance polymer electrolytes. Here, we design a class of Hofmann complexes that offer continuous two-dimensional lithium-ion conduction channels with functional ligands, creating highly conductive electrolytes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!