In the United States, HIV infections could be reduced by 67% by 2030, study finds

ATLANTA – In the United States, new HIV infections could be significantly reduced by 2030 if ambitious targets for HIV care and treatment are achieved and targeted prevention interventions targeted at those at risk of HIV are growing rapidly, according to a study by Georgia State University and the University of Albany-SUNY.

The federal government recently announced a goal of reducing 90% of new HIV infections over the next ten years during the State of the Union speech in 2019. This study shows that the Goal is unlikely to be achieved, but that it is possible to drastically reduce new HIV infections over the next decade through innovative models of delivering preventive interventions and HIV treatment and investments sufficient to develop them.

Researchers badyzed the latest HIV surveillance data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and estimated how many new HIV infections could be prevented by ambitious but achievable national targets for HIV prevention .

They expect to achieve the internationally recognized goals of HIV diagnosis and management by 2025 and prevent 20% of additional transmissions through targeted interventions such as pre-prophylaxis. -exposure (PrEP) for people at risk of HIV would allow the United States to reduce 67 new HIV infections. percent in the next decade.

To achieve this goal, the percentage of HIV-positive people diagnosed receiving care should rise from less than 70% to 95% in six years and 40% of PrEP coverage among people at risk of HIV, unprecedented levels of HIV infection. the American epidemic. The results are published in the journal AIDS and behavior.

"It's important to set ambitious but realistic HIV prevention goals," said Dr. Heather Bradley, lead author of the study and badistant professor at the School of Public Health at Georgia State. "We know that treating people living with HIV significantly improves health and also prevents the transmission of HIV infection to others." However, treating enough people to significantly reduce the new ones HIV infections will force us to face issues such as poverty, unstable housing and mental health issues people living with HIV to access care. "

Progress in reducing HIV infections in the United States, particularly among minority and at-risk groups, has been relatively stagnant and a new national HIV strategy with achievable targets is absolutely necessary.

"The dramatic increase in the number of people living with HIV receiving care and treatment, coupled with targeted prevention strategies for people at risk of HIV infection, could result in a significant increase in the number of people living with HIV receiving care and treatment. Substantial reduction in the number of new HIV infections over the next decade Our study estimates how much improvement is possible and can help quantify what it would take to get there, "Bradley said.

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The co-authors of the study include Eli S. Rosenberg and David R. Holtgrave of the University of Albany-SUNY School of Public Health.

To read the study, visit https: //link.Springer.com /Article /ten.1007 /s10461-019-02442-7.