Study suppressing HIV in 86% of new patients in two months

March 8 (UPI) – A new approach to treatment brings hope to people living with HIV.

The results of the study presented this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections took an average of 63 days for HIV-positive people in the iENGAGE study. And 86% of these people maintained suppression after the 48-week study.

"Even faced with many other challenges in their lives, the majority of people involved in HIV care can suppress the virus, improve their health, and prevent transmission of the virus to others," said Anthony S. Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy. Infectious diseases, said in a press release.

About 31% of patients in the study had depression and 30% anxiety, about one-third reported high-risk alcohol and 18% other substances.

iENGAGE s is concentrated in communities in Baltimore, Seattle, Birmingham, Alabama and Chapel Hill, NC, where viral suppression rates were only 60% just 10 years ago.

During the trial, patients were randomly divided into two groups. In one group, patients received antiretroviral therapy or antiretroviral therapy. Patients from the other group benefited from four personalized counseling sessions tailored to the needs of participants, as well as telephone support and antiretroviral therapy.

According to the researchers, iENGAGE's results underscore the need to change HIV treatment guidelines, which should promote early treatment of HIV-positive people and emphasize the need to continue to receive care after diagnosis.

The researchers say the trial also highlights the importance of finding new strategies for engaging and treating people living with HIV.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.1 million people in the United States are HIV-positive.

"To end the HIV epidemic in the United States, we need to ensure that effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies are available to all who need them, particularly in areas of the country where HIV is prevalent. the burden of HIV is the heaviest, "said Fauci.