Puja Van Epps
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P-381. Veterans on Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine Long Acting Treatment for HIV are Younger and More Urban Than Those Who Continue Oral ART Open
Background In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first complete long-acting (LA) injectable antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen, cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (CAB+RPV LA), for use in people with HIV (PWH) to maintain …
P-1435. Association between Social Determinants of Health and Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with HIV in the V-EXTRA-CVD Study Open
Background Despite viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV (PWH) are twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease (CVD) as those without. Here we aim to understand the association between SDH and modifiable CVD…
View article: P-1400. Feasibility, Acceptability and Impact of Self-Sample Collection for Extra-genital STI Testing: Experience from a High Complexity VA Facility
P-1400. Feasibility, Acceptability and Impact of Self-Sample Collection for Extra-genital STI Testing: Experience from a High Complexity VA Facility Open
Background Routine screening of all exposed extra-genital sites for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), specifically Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), is recommended for individuals at high risk, including some…
P-1440. Are Veterans Willing to Complete Sexual Health Screening In Primary Care?: Lessons Learned from a Population Level Sexual Health Questionnaire Open
Background The CDC recommends routine sexual histories (SH), yet they are rarely completed in primary care (PC) due to barriers ranging from patient discomfort to provider time constraints. We implemented a system wide nurse-led sexual hea…
P-50. Mpox Vaccine Uptake Among Sexual and Gender Minority Veterans With and Without HIV in a Nationwide US Veteran Cohort Open
Background Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) and people with HIV have been disproportionately affected by the Mpox pandemic. Vaccination is recommended for those who may be at an increased risk. We examined the uptake of Mpox vaccine nati…
P-49. Sexual and Gender Minority Veterans With HIV More Likely Vaccinated Against HPV Than Those Without HIV in a Nationwide Cohort Open
Background Certain sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults, particularly those with HIV, experience a disproportionate impact of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its related diseases. Vaccination against HPV, which is recommended in all adul…
Extragenital self-collection testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia: A feasibility study for expanding STI screening in the Veterans Health Administration Open
Objectives Rectal and pharyngeal infections with gonorrhea and chlamydia are of concern because they are associated with higher risk of HIV acquisition. Extragenital screening in asymptomatic persons at high risk may have the potential to …
View article: Veteran's Health Administration HIV Care Continuum: 2019 vs 2022
Veteran's Health Administration HIV Care Continuum: 2019 vs 2022 Open
Background The diagnosis-based Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Continuum offers a well-established framework for measuring HIV care quality. It is used by the government agencies, community organizations, and health care institutio…
View article: 2898. PrEP Inequity Across Geographic, Racial and Sex Groups in a Nationwide US Veteran Cohort
2898. PrEP Inequity Across Geographic, Racial and Sex Groups in a Nationwide US Veteran Cohort Open
Background Despite increasing uptake of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, gains have been disparate across groups in non-Veteran populations. PrEP to need ratio (PnR), a measure of PrEP use relative to HIV incidence in a …
A telehealth-delivered intervention to extend the veteran HIV treatment cascade for cardiovascular disease prevention: V-EXTRA-CVD study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Open
Background: Veterans living with HIV have up to twice the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to those without HIV.Objective: Our study seeks to test a non-physician led virtual self-management implementation st…
2214. National Testing Assessment of Select Bacterial STIs During the COVID-19 Pandemic Open
Background Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis infections rose in the US for 6 consecutive years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Patterns of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing during the COVID-19 pandemic have yet to be fully assess…
Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing in the National Veterans Health Administration Patient Cohort During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Open
Background We performed a retrospective study of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during 2019–2021. Methods We determined the annual number of chlamy…
857. Discussion and Initiation of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Were Rare Following Diagnoses of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Veterans Open
Background Healthcare encounters for the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common and represent a window of opportunity to discuss and initiate HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Little is known about …
View article: 849. Impact of a Combined Education and Data Driven Intervention on PrEP Uptake at the Veterans Health Administration
849. Impact of a Combined Education and Data Driven Intervention on PrEP Uptake at the Veterans Health Administration Open
Background Despite proven efficacy, uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in the US remains suboptimal. Whether electronic medical record (EMR) driven data tools increase PrEP uptake is unknown. Our study sought to u…
Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study Open
Background To measure the incidence of syphilis diagnoses among people with HIV vs those without HIV in a national multiyear retrospective cohort. Methods Treponemal and nontreponemal tests, HIV status, and demographic data were identified…
Testing Practices and Incidence of Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infection in the Veterans Health Administration, 2009–2019 Open
Background Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae cases reached a record high in the United States in 2018. Although active-duty military service members have high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection, trends in chlamydia an…
Gaps in Preexposure Prophylaxis Uptake for HIV Prevention in the Veterans Health Administration Open
Objectives. To report demographics, regional variations, and indications for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use for HIV prevention in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods. We identified persons initiating tenofovir/emtricitabi…
Preexisting Immunity, Not Frailty Phenotype, Predicts Influenza Postvaccination Titers among Older Veterans Open
Both preexisting immunity to influenza and age have been shown to be correlates of influenza vaccine responses. Frailty, an indicator of functional impairment in older adults, was also shown in one study to predict lower influenza vaccine …
Predictors of First-Year Medication Adherence in a National Cohort of Veterans Initiating Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to Prevent HIV Infection Open
Background Current guidelines for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) recommend daily use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate / emtricitabine (TDF/FTC). Little is known about levels and predictors of long-term PrEP medication adherence in rou…