Rapid Restart of Antiretroviral Therapy May Not Always Lead to Viral Suppression for People Living with HIV

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes examined the outcomes of rapid restart of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people with HIV who have relinked to care at a safety-net HIV clinic in San Francisco. The researchers used electronic medical record data to conduct a retrospective study of adults with HIV who had been out of care and were restarting ART on the same day. The study found that while viral suppression was achieved in some participants, there were significant disparities in outcomes based on sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 53% of participants achieved viral suppression (VL 1000 copies/mL at baseline.
  • 41% of participants had a history of homelessness.
  • 27% of participants had a history of psychosis.
  • 64% of participants had a comorbidity, such as diabetes or hypertension.

Sources:

  • Outcomes of Rapid Restart Among People With Previously Diagnosed HIV at a Safety-Net HIV Clinic in San Francisco. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2025;100(3):256-264. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins - www.lww.com; JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes - journals.lww.com/jaids/pages/default.aspx)
  • University of California Describes Findings in HIV/AIDS (Outcomes of Rapid Restart Among People With Previously Diagnosed HIV at a Safety-Net HIV Clinic in San Francisco). AIDS Weekly. October 27, 2025; p 177.