Using surveillance data to initiate public health outreach to persons out of care and assist with re-engagement with care and partner services Chi-Chi N. Udeagu, MPH HIV Epidemiology and Field Services program Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Outcomes of outreach to persons living with HIV (PLWH), presumed out-of-care (OOC), 7/ /2010 PLWH presumed to be OOC ≥9 months 797 Found 689 (86%) Not found 108 (14%) Current to care 229 (33%) Confirmed OOC 414 (60%) Moved 28 (4%) Died 16 (2%) Incarcerated 2 (<1%) Accepted appointments 327 (79%) Refused appointments 87 (21%) Kept appointment 252 (77%)
Key Findings of outreach to PLWH, confirmed OOC 7/ /2010 N% Clinical status while OOC (measured at entry into care) CD4 count <200 (N=116)5648 Viral load >10,000 copies/mL (N=232)13357 Time between initial outreach and first appointment237 <1 month8235 ≤1-3 months10745 >3 months4820 Partner services outcomes414 PLWH’s who named partners5213 Number of Partners named65 Partners with HIV negative or unknown status22 Partners newly diagnosed with HIV313 Most common reason for being OOC (N=161): “felt well”6641
Conclusions Patients who have fallen out of care are receptive to public health efforts to re-engage them in HIV-related care The majority of OOC patients have high VLs and therefore, have a substantial risk of transmitting HIV to un-infected partners Medical providers and public health officials can and should collaborate to link, retain and return HIV infected patients to medical care