aidsmap news: US ‘gag rule’ leads to 90,000 additional HIV infections annually, 27 June 2022

News from aidsmap

US ‘gag rule’ leads to 90,000 additional HIV infections annually

The first large-scale study of the impact of the United States’ anti-abortion Mexico City Policy shows it likely has led to an estimated 90,000 new HIV infections and almost 30,000 maternal and child deaths annually, mostly among children. The study revealed other donors’ potential power to mitigate these effects by providing alternative funding.

After four months of war, challenges remain for displaced Ukrainians living with HIV

In March, we reported that Ukrainians displaced by the conflict were struggling to access HIV and drug dependency treatment. It has now been four months since Russia invaded Ukraine, and people living with HIV who have been displaced by the conflict continue to face serious risks to their health.

High rate of new peripheral artery disease cases in people with HIV

People with HIV have a high incidence of peripheral artery disease, a signal of future cardiovascular disease and circulation problems, a Danish study published in the journal AIDS has found. Diabetes and a low CD4 count each raised the risk of ‘silent’ peripheral artery disease that could lead to more serious problems in later life.

How PEPFAR countries sustained HIV programmes in 2020 amidst COVID-19

An assessment by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to determine the impact of COVID-19 mitigation strategies in 41 PEPFAR-supported countries reported overall gains of 5% in the number of people on HIV treatment and a 2% increase in the number with viral load suppression in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite challenges in delivery of services for HIV prevention and treatment the world over.

Substantial weight gain as dolutegravir is rolled out in Africa

A study analysing data from four African countries found that people living with HIV who switched to a dolutegravir-based antiretroviral regimen had a fourfold increase in average weight gain, compared to the year before the switch.

Meta-analysis reveals the high global prevalence of intimate partner violence among people living with HIV

Four in ten people living with HIV have ever experienced intimate partner violence, with two in ten people experiencing it in the previous year. This is according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. Emotional abuse was the most prevalent type of intimate partner violence experienced.

Disconnect between awareness and belief in accuracy of U=U in Italy

An Italian nationwide survey found that three-quarters of people living with HIV had heard about 'Undetectable = Untransmittable' (U=U), while just under half of HIV-negative people surveyed had heard about it. A high number of infectious disease doctors were aware of U=U. However, in none of the groups sampled did all participants who had heard of U=U fully believe in its complete accuracy.

Integrase inhibitors raise the risk of heart attack, stroke during first two years of treatment

Treatment with an integrase inhibitor was associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke during the first two years of exposure to the drug class when compared to treatment with other antiretroviral drugs, a large study of people receiving treatment since 2012 has found.

South Africa could be among the last to rollout child-friendly dolutegravir

In 2019, South Africa introduced guidelines recommending dolutegravir-based treatment for adults and children about six years and older, depending on weight. Three years later, however, the country has yet to offer widespread access to the drug's dispersible, child-friendly formulations. Instead, doctors have had to apply for access on a case-by-case basis.

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Editors' picks from other sources

Investigational lenacapavir receives positive CHMP opinion for people with multidrug-resistant HIV | Gilead Sciences press release

Recommendation is based on week 26 data from the CAPELLA trial showing twice-yearly lenacapavir achieved high rates of virologic suppression in heavily treatment-experienced people with HIV.

‘He taught me about love, affection and great sex’: the untold story of Terrence Higgins | The Guardian

Britain’s best-known HIV charity was launched 40 years ago, but little is known about the man who inspired it. The trust’s co-founders, a former partner and a close friend, reflect on his extraordinary life and legacy.

Long-lasting HIV prevention drug too slow to reach Africa, activists say | Science

Injectable cabotegravir for PrEP was tested in seven African countries. But it’s unclear when they’ll have access to it.

Shorter, simpler DR-TB regimen expected later this year | Spotlight

Work is underway in South Africa to amend the country’s national guidelines for drug-resistant tuberculosis to provide a shorter, six-month, all-oral regimen as a new standard-of-care treatment.

Why the monkeypox outbreak is mostly affecting men who have sex with men | Science

Ever since monkeypox started to sicken thousands of people worldwide this spring, two big questions have loomed: Why is a virus that has never managed to spread beyond a few cases outside Africa suddenly causing such a big, global outbreak? And why are the overwhelming majority of those affected men who have sex with men?

Montreal AIDS conference organiser warns of 'catastrophe' if delegates denied visas | CBC

Hundreds of delegates from Asia, Africa and Latin America scheduled to attend a major AIDS conference in Montreal next month are in limbo because Ottawa has not issued them visas, organisers say, while dozens of others have seen their applications rejected.

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