Accuracy of definitions for linkage to care in persons living with HIV.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the accuracy of linkage to care metrics for patients diagnosed with HIV using retention in care and virological suppression as the gold standards of effective linkage.

Design

A retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18 years and older with newly diagnosed HIV infection in the City of Philadelphia, 2007-2008.

Methods

Times from diagnosis to clinic visits or laboratory testing were used as linkage measures. Outcome variables included being retained in care and achieving virological suppression, 366-730 days after diagnosis. Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) for each linkage measure and retention, and virological suppression outcomes are described.

Results

Of the 1781 patients

SUBMITTER: Keller SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3796149 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature