title: Success of clinical care for human immunodeficiency virus infection according to demographic group among sexually infected patients in a routine clinic population, 1999 to 2004.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success of clinical care for human immunodeficiency virus infection may vary across demographic groups, because of patient- and health care-related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2386 patients sexually infected with the human immunodeficiency virus were seen in a London clinic from July 1, 1999, to December 31, 2004. We examined demographic variation and trends over time in the prevalence of the following: (1) a CD4 cell count of 200/microL or less; (2) a viral load of greater than 50 copies/mL among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART); and (3) a viral load of greater than 50 copies/mL among patients receiving ART for 24 weeks or longer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects were homosexual men (63.1%), white heterosexual men (4.3%) and women (5.1%), and black African or other ethnicity heterosexual men (10.2%) and women (17.3%). The CD4 cell count at the first clinic visit was highest among homosexual men and lowest among black African heterosexual men. From 1999 to 2004, ART use increased from 61.9% to 75.5%. The prevalence of a CD4 cell count of 200/microL or less decreased from 19.6% to 9.0%. The prevalence of a viral load of greater than 50 copies/mL decreased from 36.9% to 14.5% among patients receiving ART, and from 31.2% to 10.1% among patients receiving ART for 24 weeks or longer. Demographic variation in the prevalence of each outcome was apparent among men throughout the period: homosexual men had the most favorable profile, and black African heterosexual men had the least favorable profile. Differences were much greater for low CD4 cell count than for raised viral load while receiving ART. There was no consistent demographic variation among women. Favorable trends over time occurred within each demographic group, and were as strong among black African patients as among other subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The success of clinical care for human immunodeficiency virus infection increased substantially from 1999 to 2004 in this routine clinic population. All demographic subgroups benefited from improvements, despite ongoing differences in the prevalence of immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, Rowland Hill Street, London, England. f.lampe@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: Colette J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madge
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinloch-de Loes
authors.forename: Mervyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tyrer
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sabin
authors.forename: Clinton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chaloner
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Youle
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents