title: HIV Infection and Linkage to HIV-Related Medical Care in Large Urban Areas in the United States, 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Residents of urban areas have accounted for the majority of persons diagnosed with HIV disease in the United States. Linking persons recently diagnosed with HIV to primary medical care is an important indicator in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data reported to the HIV Surveillance System in 18 urban areas in the United States. Standardized executable SAS programs were distributed to determine the number of HIV cases living through 2008, number of HIV cases diagnosed in 2009, and the percentage of those diagnosed in 2009 who had reported CD4 lymphocyte or HIV viral load test results within 3 months of HIV diagnosis. Data were presented by jurisdiction, age group at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex at birth, birth country, disease stage, and transmission category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By jurisdiction, the percentage of persons diagnosed in 2009 with at least 1 CD4 or HIV viral load test within 3 months of diagnosis ranged from 48.5% to 92.5% (median: 70.9). The percentage of persons linked to care varied by age group and by racial/ethnic groups. Fourteen of the 18 areas reported that the percentage of persons linked to care was greater than 65%, the baseline measure indicated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A wide range in percent linked to HIV medical care was observed between residents of 18 urban areas in the United States with noted age and racial disparities. Routine testing and linkage efforts and intensified prevention efforts should be considered to increase access to primary HIV-related medical care.
authors.affiliation: *Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; †ICF Macro International, Inc, Atlanta, GA; ‡HIV/STI Services Division, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL; §Population Health Division, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA; and ‖Division of HIV and STD Programs, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Laffoon
authors.forename: H Irene
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surendera Babu
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benbow
authors.forename: Ling C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yunyin W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
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