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This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Giving antiretroviral therapy to people newly diagnosed with HIV may be an effective and cost-effective way of reducing new infections. Increased HIV testing in at-risk populations may identify more people for treatment and also reduce infection rates.
Using data from a number of sources including NIHR funded projects, researchers developed a computer simulation model. The model looked at the relationship between HIV infections, sexual risk behaviours and antiretroviral therapy over a 30 year period. Introduction of antiretroviral therapies and increased condom use were associated with lower rates of new cases. Most new HIV infections arose due to people not yet being aware of their HIV status. Modelling projections suggested that increasing the rate of HIV testing, and initiating antiretroviral therapy from diagnosis could both reduce the rates of new infections.
However, in the years since antiretroviral therapy has proved effective, sex without a condom has increased among men who have sex with men and is the main route of infection. This is hampering any attempts to reduce the number of people passing on HIV.
Why was this study needed?
In the UK there are over 100,000 people living with HIV. Each year there are around 4,000 new cases of HIV. Most of these new cases are in men who have sex with men (MSM). Antiretroviral therapy is used to suppress HIV in people who carry the virus. It is also known to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV.
Previously, people did not receive antiretroviral therapy until the HIV infection had reduced the number of certain immune cells. This was defined as having a CD4 count lower than 350/µl. The START randomised trial recently found that there is a clinical benefit to individuals who initiate antiretroviral therapy sooner, when they are first diagnosed with HIV.
This modelling study aimed to look at whether earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy for MSM could also reduce the rate of new HIV infections and if it is cost-effective.
What did this study do?
This health economic modelling study explored the cost-effectiveness of giving antiretroviral therapy to men with HIV from the time they are diagnosed. The researchers used data from five NIHR‑funded studies: three cross-sectional surveys, the START trial and a cohort study. Three studies were from the UK, one included European countries and START was international.
A computer simulation model was developed to examine the relationship between risk behaviours, transmission, disease progression and the effect of treatment from 1980 to 2012. Predictions about infection rates by 2030 were also made when modelling the effects of increased testing, changing the proportion of people on antiretroviral therapy and the timing of starting treatment.
The models assume that levels of condomless sex remain as they were in 2012 which may not be the case.
What did it find?
Looking at data from 1980 to 2012, the computer simulation model found:
- Initially, the incidence of HIV reduced in response to a decline in condomless sex. Once antiretroviral therapy was introduced, however, condomless sex started to increase which in turn lead to a rise in HIV infection incidence.
- The previous policy of initiating antiretroviral therapy when the CD4 count was below 350/µl reduced HIV infection incidence. Most (82%) new cases of HIV in that period were infected by people who did not know they had HIV and were therefore not receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Future projections from the model suggested:
- To reduce HIV infection incidence to less than 1 case per 1,000 person-years, the proportion of MSM living with HIV who are virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy should increase from 60% to 90%.
- Increasing the rate of HIV testing to encourage earlier diagnosis would, by itself, reduce new infections. This may be even more effective than the change in policy regarding the timing of antiretroviral therapy initiation.
- The cost-effectiveness ratio to achieve 90% coverage would be £20,000 at current drug prices. This includes the additional testing that would be required. If the price of antiretroviral therapy reduces to 20% of current prices when generic drugs are available, the cost-effectiveness ratio will drop to £3,500.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
The British HIV Association published an interim update to guidelines on the use of antiretroviral therapy for adults with HIV in 2016. They recommend that everyone with suspected or diagnosed HIV infection is reviewed promptly by an HIV specialist and offered immediate antiretroviral therapy.
This recommendation was made on the basis of randomised controlled trials which showed that immediate antiretroviral therapy provided increased clinical benefit compared with waiting until CD4 counts dropped.
What are the implications?
This study supports recommendations that antiretroviral therapy should be offered immediately to people newly diagnosed with HIV, rather than waiting until the CD4 count falls. As well as providing benefits for the individual with HIV, this will reduce the risk of onward transmission of the virus.
To meet the 90% target, four times as many people need to be tested, which is a major challenge. Also, there needs to be greater public awareness that the growing pattern of men having condomless sex with multiple male partners is hindering the success of approaches to reduce the number of people living with HIV.
Citation and Funding
Miltz A, Phillips AN, Speakman A et al. Implications for a policy of initiating antiretroviral therapy in people diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus: the CAPRA research programme. Programme Grants Appl Res. 2017;5(18).
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research (project number RP-PG-0608-10142).
Bibliography
BHIVA. BHIVA guidelines for the treatment of HIV-1-positive adults with antiretroviral therapy 2015. London: British HIV Association; interim update 2016.
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