HIV Suppression among Patients on Treatment in Vietnam : A Review of HIV Viral Load Testing in a Public Urban Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract EN

Background.

There are few reports of HIV viral load (VL) testing among patients on ART in Vietnam.

Methods.

From a public clinic in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), we reviewed cases of VL measurements from adults on ART.

Results.

We identified 228 cases.

Median age was 30 years (27–34), 85% were male, and 77% had a history of IDU.

The mean ART duration was 26 months (95% CI 25–27); d4T/3TC/NVP was the most common regimen.

Viral suppression was seen in 160/228 (70%).

Viremia (>1000 copies/mL) was associated with prior ART exposure (OR 5.68, P<.0001) and immunologic failure (OR 4.69, P=.0001).

Targeted testing accounted for 13% of cases, only half of which yielded viremia.

Conclusion.

We demonstrate a high HIV suppression rate among patients on ART in HCMC, Vietnam.

In this setting, routine testing detects viremia missed by targeted testing.