Accuracy of self‐report of HIV viral load among people with HIV on antiretroviral treatment

• Published in: HIV medicine 2017-08, Vol.18 (7), p.463-473
• Main Authors: Sewell, J, Daskalopoulou, M, Nakagawa, F, Lampe, FC, Edwards, S, Perry, N, Wilkins, E, O'Connell, R, Jones, M, Collins, S, Speakman, A, Phillips, AN, Rodger, AJ, Johnson, Margaret, McDonnell, Jeff, Aderonke, Adebiyi, Gilson, Richard, Haddow, Lewis, Gilson, Simon, Broussard, Christina, Pralat, Robert, Wayal, Sonali, Fisher, Martin, Pollard, Alex, Fedele, Serge, Kerr, Louise, Heald, Lisa, Hadley, Wendy, Hobbs, Kerry, Williams, Julia, Youssef, Elaney, Richardson, Celia, Groth, Sean, Clowes, Yvonne, Cullie, Jennifer, Murphy, Cynthia, Martin, Christina, George, Valerie, Thompson, Andrew, Anderson, Jane, Mguni, Sifiso, Awosika, Damilola, Scourse, Rosalind, Aderogba, Kazeem, Osborne, Caron, Cross, Sue, Whinney, Jacqueline, Tawana, Cheryl, Lascar, Monica, Maseko, Zandile, Townsend, Gemma, Theodore, Vera, Sagoo, Jas, Miners, Alec, Hart, Graham, Geretti, Anna‐Maria, Burman, Bill, Partridge, Nick, Orton, Kay, Nardone, Anthony, Sullivan, Ann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: accuracy of self‐report; Adult; Aged; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiviral agents; CD4 antigen; CD4 count; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographics; Disease transmission; engagement in care; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - virology; HIV knowledge; HIV viral load; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; medical record; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Original Research; Self Report; Sexual behavior; Sexual transmission; socioeconomic status; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom; Viral Load; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1464-2662; 1468-1293
• DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12477

Objectives The aim of the study was to assess, among people living with HIV, knowledge of their latest HIV viral load (VL) and CD4 count. Methods Agreement between self‐report and clinic record was assessed among 2771 HIV‐diagnosed individuals on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the UK Antiretrovirals, Sexual Transmission Risk and Attitudes Study (2011–2012). A confidential self‐completed questionnaire collected information on demographic, socioeconomic, HIV‐related and health‐related factors. Participants were asked to self‐report their latest VL [undetectable (≤ 50 copies/mL), detectable (> 50 copies/mL) or “don't know”] and CD4 count (< 200, 200–350, 351–500 or > 500 cells/μL, or “don't know”). Latest clinic‐recorded VL and CD4 count were documented. Results Of 2678 participants on ART, 434 (16.2%) did not accurately report whether their VL was undetectable. Of 2334 participants with clinic‐recorded VL ≤ 50 copies/mL, 2061 (88.3%) correctly reported undetectable VL; 49 (2.1%) reported detectable VL; 224 (9.6%) did not know their VL. Of 344 participants with clinic‐recorded VL > 50 copies/mL, 183 (53.2%) correctly reported detectable VL; 76 (22.1%) reported undetectable VL; 85 (24.7%) did not know their VL. Of 2137 participants who reported undetectable VL, clinic‐recorded VL was ≤ 50 copies/mL for 2061 (96.4%) and