title: Rural-urban differences in HIV viral loads and progression to AIDS among new HIV cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in the United States has shifted to the South, where an increasing proportion is occurring in rural areas. We sought to gain a better understanding of the affected rural population in this region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The statewide HIV/AIDS Electronic Reporting System database was used to examine the epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed HIV cases in South Carolina from 2005 to 2011. Rural-urban differences were examined in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including progression to AIDS and a decline in HIV viral load (VL) to undetectable levels within 1 year of diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 5336 individuals newly diagnosed as having HIV, 1433 (26.9%) were from rural areas. Compared with urban residents, a higher proportion of rural residents were black, non-Hispanic (80.1% vs 68.5%; P ≤ 0.0001) and reported heterosexual risk (28.8% vs 22.9%; P = 0.0007). The proportion of female patients was higher in rural areas (29.7% vs 26.4%; P = 0.016). No significant rural-urban differences were found in initial CD4(+) T-cell and VL counts or proportion obtaining an undetectable VL at 1 year. Rural residents were significantly more likely than urban residents to have AIDS at diagnosis or within 1 year of the HIV diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio 1.15; 95% confidence interval 1.007-1.326).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reasons behind differences in proportions of rural and urban residents who were diagnosed as having AIDS or progressed to AIDS despite similar initial CD4(+) T-cell counts and VL suppression at 1 year are unclear and should be explored in future studies. Future prevention and treatment efforts may need to consider the unique characteristics of rural populations in the South.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Duffus
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Medha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Hrishikesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Ashok Varma
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Samantapudi
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018563:Disease Notification; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult