A community-based model of HIV care for men who have sex with men and transgender women in Chicago

Socioeconomically disadvantaged men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) share a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic. Providing care in the community may help improve retention and treatment outcomes of these clients. Our objective was to compare HIV outcomes between a community-based model (CBM) and a hospital-based model (HBM) of HIV care. This was a retrospective cohort study of MSM and TGW with HIV treated at community clinics or at a hospital-based clinic. The primary outcome was the cumulative probability of virologic failure (HIV viral load >= 200 copies/ml). We conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression to identify differences in outcome by care setting. Of 258 MSM and TGW, approximately half received care in the CBM. They were more likely to be African American (71% versus 59%), uninsured (48% versus 39%), and used illicit drugs (40% versus 25%). There was no difference in virologic failure by setting (58% CBM, 53% HBM; cumulative incidence of virologic failure: 35% CBM, 25% HBM; adjusted HR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.88-1.39). Despite serving clients at greater risk for failure, virologic failure in our CBM was similar to a traditional HBM for MSM and TGW living with HIV.