Vital Signs: HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment among persons living with HIV--United States, 2011

Abstract

In the United States, an estimated 1.2 million persons are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a serious infection that, if untreated, leads to illness and premature death. Persons living with HIV who use antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve very low levels of the virus (suppressed viral load) can have a nearly normal life expectancy and have very low risk for transmitting HIV to others. However, each year in the United States, nearly 50,000 persons become infected with HIV. Each step along the HIV care continuum (HIV diagnosis, prompt and sustained HIV medical care, and ART) is essential for achieving a suppressed viral load.

FIGURE 1

Estimated percentage of persons living with HIV infection,^* by outcome along the HIV care continuum — United States, 2011 Abbreviations: HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; ART = antiretroviral therapy. ^* N = 1,201,100.

FIGURE 2

Estimated percentage of persons living with HIV infection,^* by viral suppression status, and estimated percentage of persons living with HIV infection who were not virally suppressed,^† by diagnosis and treatment status — United States, 2011 Abbreviations: HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; ART = antiretroviral therapy. ^* N = 1,201,100. ^† N = 839,336.