HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake, Initiation, and Persistence in the Detroit Public Health STD Clinic

BACKGROUND: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool; however, little is known about PrEP uptake, initiation, and persistence among patients prescribed PrEP in STD clinics. METHODS: Between July 2016 and March 2017, STD clinic staff compiled reports detailing the eligibility and initiation of PrEP in the Detroit STD Clinic. Staff called all patients prescribed PrEP to determine whether they had started PrEP, were still on PrEP, and their reasons for never initiating or discontinuing PrEP. We used chi-square tests to evaluate differences in PrEP initiation and discontinuation by age and race, calculated the population’s mean duration on PrEP (persistence), and used proportional hazards regression to assess differences in persistence by age and race. RESULTS: A total of 161 STD clinic patients were eligible for PrEP, of whom 71 (44%) were prescribed PrEP. Of the 71 patients prescribed PrEP, staff successfully interviewed 45 (63%) a median of 113 days following their receipt of prescription. Thirty-four (76%) interviewed patients had initiated PrEP, of whom 17 (50%) had subsequently discontinued their medication a mean of 92 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: ± 23.8) following receipt of a prescription. Figure 1 illustrates the PrEP care continuum for our clinic. There was no significant difference in PrEP initiation or discontinuation by age or race. There was no significant difference in persistence by race. Ages 18–24 had the shortest mean persistence (62 days, 95% CI: ±37.5), while those ages 35–44 had the longest mean persistence (146 days, 95% CI: ± 47.3) though this was not a significant difference (hazard ratio 0.39, P = 0.28). The most common reason for not initiating or discontinuing PrEP was concern about side effects (29%). CONCLUSION: Clinicians in the Detroit STD clinic prescribed PrEP for less than half of PrEP-eligible patients, only 76% of those prescribed PrEP ever filled their first prescription, and the mean duration of use among those who filled a first prescription was under 6 months. Our findings highlight the need for further evaluation of why eligible patients are not prescribed PrEP, intensified support services to encourage PrEP persistence, and improved patient counseling about potential side effects. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.