Twenty per cent of new HIV infections in the USA arise in young men (aged 13–24 years) who have sex with men (YMSM); however, >50% of YMSM with HIV do not know their HIV status. Mathematical simulation was used to assess clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of yearly, 6-monthly and 3-monthly screening strategies, in addition to the status quo (SQ), in high-risk YMSM aged from 15 years. Published data (YMSM-specific when available) were used for the model and projected outcomes included CD4 count at diagnosis, primary HIV transmissions from age 15–30 years, quality-adjusted life expectancy, costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. All strategies increased projected CD4 at diagnosis and quality-adjusted life expectancy from age 15 compared with SQ, and also increased discounted lifetime cost for the entire population. Screening at 3-monthly intervals was cost-effective compared with SQ and reduced primary transmissions by 40% in YMSM aged up to 30 years.
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Neilan, A. M. et al. Cost-effectiveness of frequent HIV screening among high-risk young men who have sex with men in the United States. Clin. Infect. Dis. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1061 (2020)
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Fenner, A. 3-monthly HIV screening is best for young MSM. Nat Rev Urol 17, 486 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-020-0369-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-020-0369-x