Brief Report: Clinical Outcomes of Young Black Men Receiving HIV Medical Care in the United States, 2009–2014

Abstract

Background: More than one-quarter of 2016 HIV diagnoses among blacks in the United States occurred among persons aged 15–24 years, and three-quarters were among men. Although the prevalence of viral suppression in all tests in the past 12 months (durable viral suppression) among persons receiving HIV care increased from 58% to 68% during 2009–2013, we do not know whether this same improvement was observed among young black men receiving care. Methods: We analyzed the 2009–2014 Medical Monitoring Project data collected from 336 black men aged 18–24 years. We estimated the proportion of young black men receiving HIV care who were prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), adherent to ART, and durably virally suppressed. We assessed changes in clinical outcomes over time and their association with patient characteristics, health behaviors, and depression. Results: During 2009–2014, 80% of young black men receiving HIV care were prescribed ART, 73% were adherent to ART, and 36% had durable viral suppression. There was no significant change in viral suppression over this period. ART prescription and durable viral suppression were significantly higher among those receiving the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program assistance compared with those who did not. Durable viral suppression was significantly lower among those who used drugs compared with those who did not. Conclusions: Viral suppression among young black men during 2009–2014 was lower than that among the overall population receiving HIV care in 2013 (36% vs. 68%). Increasing viral suppression is essential to improve health and reduce HIV transmissions in this key population.