Modified Population Viral Load Indices and HIV Acquisition Risk

Modified population viral load indices — but not standard indices — correlated well with increased risk for HIV acquisition in an African population-based study.

Population viral load (PVL) is used to describe the mean HIV viral load within a community and is typically calculated by averaging known viral loads among those with HIV infection. Although many have inferred that PVL predicts HIV acquisition risk within a community, this association has not been verified and does not account for HIV prevalence or risk differences within a population. Investigators sought to assess this relationship using a prospective cohort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is hyperendemic for HIV. Data collected from the cohort of 87,000 participants from a 438 km² area included HIV testing at baseline and viral load measurements from those who were HIV+. Those who tested negative were followed for 5 years. HIV inci…

Reviewing Author

Wendy S. Armstrong, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNIH Therapeutics and Prevention Data Safety Monitoring Board

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Board of Internal Medicine Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Board (member), Infectious Diseases Society of America (Vice President)

Wendy S. Armstrong, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNIH Therapeutics and Prevention Data Safety Monitoring Board

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Board of Internal Medicine Infectious Diseases Subspecialty Board (member), Infectious Diseases Society of America (Vice President)

Modified Population Viral Load Indices and HIV Acquisition Risk

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Reviewing Author