title: Delayed HIV diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral therapy: inequalities by educational level, COHERE in EuroCoord.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Europe and elsewhere, health inequalities among HIV-positive individuals are of concern. We investigated late HIV diagnosis and late initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) by educational level, a proxy of socioeconomic position.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from nine HIV cohorts within COHERE in Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, collecting data on level of education in categories of the UNESCO/International Standard Classification of Education standard classification: non-completed basic, basic, secondary and tertiary education. We included individuals diagnosed with HIV between 1996 and 2011, aged at least 16 years, with known educational level and at least one CD4 cell count within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. We examined trends by education level in presentation with advanced HIV disease (AHD) (CD4 <200 cells/μl or AIDS within 6 months) using logistic regression, and distribution of CD4 cell count at cART initiation overall and among presenters without AHD using median regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 15 414 individuals, 52, 45,37, and 31% with uncompleted basic, basic, secondary and tertiary education, respectively, presented with AHD (P trend <0.001). Compared to patients with tertiary education, adjusted odds ratios of AHD were 1.72 (95% confidence interval 1.48-2.00) for uncompleted basic, 1.39 (1.24-1.56) for basic and 1.20 (1.08-1.34) for secondary education (P < 0.001). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, median CD4 cell count at cART initiation was lower with poorer educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic inequalities in delayed HIV diagnosis and initiation of cART are present in European countries with universal healthcare systems and individuals with lower educational level do not equally benefit from timely cART initiation.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dray-Spira
authors.forename: Giota
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Touloumi
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teira
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Arminio Monforte
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallois
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zangerle
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spire
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabis
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stähelin
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Termote
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chêne
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: del Amo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004493:Education; D005060:Europe; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents